Attitude of forgiveness

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14, 15

The above verses compel an attitude of forgiveness in believers. Forgiving makes things better. Forgiving helps in being forgiven. Forgiving is advantageous. Forgiving is the will of our heavenly Father. Forgiving authorises God for permanent solutions. Forgiving honors the word of God. Forgiving is a deep effort for having the attitude of Christ.

Life experiences of suffering cheating, infedility, stealing, disobedience, insult, blasphemy, bullying or the like must have bruised our minds. The deeper the attachment, the deeper the scar. The emotional pain is worse if the wrong comes from parents, siblings, spouse or children. The offense might be accidental, ignorant or done with genuine intentions. Most of us are unaware of the quiet battles our dear ones are fighting, even those living in the same home. Although serious incidents such as murder, kidnaps, threats etc. comes under the law of respective regions, these also need forgiveness spiritually. Offenses may occur due to mental health problems as well. 

The Old Testament and New Testament has many examples of forgiveness. Joseph loved his brothers despite all their evil against him. (Genesis 43:30, Genesis 45:7) Bible portrays Joseph as one who tolerated sufferings intentionally; holding onto his dreams from God. God raised Joseph to the position he would never own otherwise. God also took care of the whole family of Joseph. (Genesis chapters  46,47)Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego lived with similar attitude. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego never prayed revengefully against the King for dumping them into deadly furnace. Daniel, who did favors for the Chaldean kingdom, showed no signs of being upset for being cast into the den of lions. (Daniel 6:22-25) Daniel and his companions were only concerned about their loyalty to God. God saved and honored Daniel and his friends. Jesus forgave Peter who denied him. John 21: 15 - 19 is about their conversation where the love of Jesus for Peter is obvious. Jesus entrusted Peter again with His ministry. All the examples above reveal invisible yet immediate forgiveness, bearing with one another. Nothing could provoke the above characters to holding bitterness.

The Holy Bible teaches to embrace forgiveness as an attitude of life. Those who obey the word of God should forgive everyone and everything. Forgiving is best advised based on the word of God. “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13) Grudge and bitterness forms if a believer does not forgive before the sun sets the very day anger formed. Devil uses that anger to lead unforgiving ones into sin. It is written in Ephesians 4:26-27 "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." 

This article encourages all readers to kindly forgive one another before the sun sets each day. Bear with one another. Hold on to the Lord for His help in letting go. Better times from the Lord is awaiting each person who forgives before the sun sets. The Lord awaits to see each person distancing themselves from grudge and bitterness.

Prayer: Our merciful God, we wail for Your grace to forgive all that hurt us. Create a heart of compassion in us. May we therefore receive your forgiveness upon all our shortcomings. Amen.

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