 |
| Lake Erie sunrise (Sterling State Park, Monroe, MI) |
I have hurt people. I have asked for their forgiveness. Many have granted this to me.
I have had people hurt me. They have come to me with the words, "John, what I said to you was wrong. Will you forgive me?"
Yes. I will. And I have. Because Christ has forgiven me of much. And because to withhold forgiveness is the core evil of the kingdom of darkness.
When someone hurts you, you have two alternatives: either forgive them, or condemn them. Either forgive or condemn. To not forgive them is to condemn them.
To forgive what someone has done to you is to cancel their indebtedness to you. Not to forgive them is to make them pay for what they have done to you.
We read in Colossians 2:13-14: He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
On the cross, your sins were forgiven - every one of them. Such pure and complete forgiveness cancelled the charge of your legal indebtedness. Your legal indebtedness stood against you and condemned you. But Christ took your legal indebtedness away, nailing it to the cross. Had he not done this you would still be indebted to God; you would have to pay. You would stand condemned. But for all who embrace the atoning sacrifice of Christ there is therefore now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
If you are a Jesus-follower and someone harms you, you must forgive them. To not do so is to be a tool of satan, who is the condemner and "accuser." Accusation and condemnation are the weapons of evil. It is pure evil to withhold forgiveness. To walk in unforgiveness is to have God against you.
Remember who said these words: And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Found here.)
Apply as needed, immediately.
NOTE: To forgive is not equal to forgetting. And forgiving someone is not equivalent to trusting them. But forgiveness is the road to rebuilding trust.
