If I hurt you, will you in return do something to get back at me? What would you do or what would you have done in the past? Hear me out for a few minutes as I talk about forgiveness and how important it is for each of us to practice. I’ve struggled with this in the past, and even now from time to time.
I remember a conversation I had with my sister years ago. She told me then that I needed to ask my ex-wife for her forgiveness. I thought to myself, you must be nuts. You saw all the stuff she intentionally put me through, and she looked at me and said yeah, but what did you put her through? I’m reminded of that day, because of all the tears that came with me saying the words, “Will you forgive me?” To be honest, that was a tough couple of minutes. She had done so much to me and I’m the one asking for forgiveness? What I later realized was, the request was not just for her, but mainly for me.
Long story short, it took a minute for me to get past my pride and arrogance, but I finally did, and I truly felt better afterwards. I had to get that stuff out of my heart and off my mind, because it was surely going to ruin my life and my relationship with the person, I have now chosen to spend the rest of my life with. She (my sister) knew that, but I had to learn it for myself.
My brothers, forgive people for all the things that they have done to you. Seek forgiveness for yourself for all the things that you have done to others. Since I gave my life to the Lord, I look back over it and I can truly see the wrong in the things and decisions I had made. Back then, it wasn’t about wrong or right, it was about whatever I wanted to do and could get away with. Now, it’s different. I try to put thought into the things I would do before doing them, so I won’t have to regret my actions and have to ask for forgiveness later. Truth is we never get away with anything. But that’s a different subject. 😊
Peter asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother? He wanted to know if there was a limit to forgiving people and bottom line the answer was, “No”. There is no limit. I honestly believe God wants us to forgive people just as He forgives us. The thing is when He forgives us, it’s forgotten. When we forgive people, it takes us a little time to get over it completely, and I believe that’s okay. He understands it’s going to take us some time, we just have to be willing and to keep trying.
One other thing about asking for forgiveness before I close is—you must mean it. When you ask God to forgive you for whatever it was you said or did and mean it—He will. Jesus, a man of no sin even asked The Father for forgiveness, but not for anything He had done, but for what they had done and were doing to Him. He was accused falsely, beaten, then crucified, and left there to die. Jesus never acted as if He was too good to ask God to forgive others, so why not ask God to forgive you, the people that have wronged you, and forgiveness for the things you have done to others?
Finally, brothers, forgive and be forgiven—”It’s a Two-Way Street”. Put away the pride and get yourself free from what may still be on the inside of you; slowly eating away at your peace and your joy. There’s enough stuff in the world that needs your attention and not that stuff that happened years ago. You don’t have to take my word for it, if you have time, read Matthew 18:21-35, 1 John 1:9 and Luke 23:34 and see for yourself, what the Bible has to say about forgiveness. Forgiveness is a Two-Way Street. Try it for yourself—you’ll be glad you did. (May God bless and continue to keep you…your Brother in Christ—TMK).
