The Importance of Forgiveness

One morning during my devotions, something I read triggered this question: When I see our brothers and sisters faltering, do I seek to guide and encourage them, or do I point out their faults and leave them feeling hopeless? After mulling this over for a while, I thought of a picture I have of Jesus and the sinful woman of John 8:3–11.

As I reviewed the details in that picture—the “righteous” Pharisees, with the stones in their hands; Jesus writing in the dirt; and the dejected woman feeling certain that she is as good as dead—I thought, What a scene! Such condemnation.

Next, I thought of my many past transgressions and God’s love toward me. Jesus died for me as well as for that poor sinful woman, I thought.

The least I can do is to seek to encourage others when they falter and not stand in judgment as the “righteous” Pharisees did, stone in hand and pointing out the sins of others. I want to be like Jesus. He, without hesitation, forgave the woman and encouraged her to move on with her life. Jesus does not want us to constantly rehash our sins or the sins of others. We are to forgive ourselves, forgive others, and move on. I remembered a best friend of many years who told me a story of forgiveness that humbled him greatly. His daughter overheard him talking to someone about her. After she confronted him about it, she said to him, “I forgive you.” He said she has never once mentioned the matter since. When he told me that story, he was so choked up he could not continue. He had to end the call and finish the story in writing. He is so grateful for his daughter’s forgiving heart. I cannot explain to you my feelings upon hearing my friend’s story because many years ago, he overheard me talking to someone about him. He could not forgive me. Our relationship broke up, and we did not speak to each other for eight long years. That memory is helping me to learn to see the good in others and to forgive. It directs me to think of the many times I have offended others, but they forgave me.

It inspires me to follow Paul’s directive to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV). I must do what Jesus did.

He forgave the woman’s sins and helped her move on with her life, guilt-free and grateful. As Jesus’ disciples, we must understand the importance of forgiveness.

Jasmine E. Grant