Forgiving as Christ Forgave Us

 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul comes to the end of this thought we’ve explored a bit in the last few days by saying one of the most difficult things we have yet to hear from him. Our reading ends with “… be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (v. 32). Martin Luther King, Jr. said it this way: We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. I have lived enough life to have been “wronged” a time or two. I must confess that forgiveness is often tempered with the thought of how I was hurt and how I should retaliate than simply forgiving and leaving all action (or inaction) to the Lord. Perhaps that is simply a result of God not being finished with me yet. The truth is that there is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. It is the discovery of this that will make us less prone to hate our enemies.

 

When you can say to them, “I forgive you, and no longer hold it against you,” both of you are set free from the negative chains, bonds, and voids that have been created. And, you can also free yourself from the burden of being offended. As long as you don’t forgive those who’ve wounded you, you then carry the offense like a millstone around your neck. Although it is a great temptation to cling to the anger generated by the conflict, as long as you carry it, it then has the right to define you. Forgiveness not only liberates the other party, but it also liberates us. It’s probably one of the only means to true freedom.

 

When we can forgive our family, friends, work colleagues, or others, we no longer have to perceive ourselves as the victim of events over which we have no control. Having a victim mentality is definitely not good, and we need to renew our minds to who we truly are in Christ. Forgiveness will allow us to take back our power and not let a person, circumstance, or event embitter, limit, or control us. So, today let me encourage you to forgive and enjoy the freedom that comes from that act of tenderness and grace.