I Forgive You

Aman’s careless driving resulted in the death of a motorcyclist. The wife of the deceased said to the very repentant driver, “I forgive you, and my family forgives you.” As simple and as powerful as that. Clearly, forgiving the driver didn’t make right the wrong that he had committed. But it did release the family of the deceased motorcyclist from unending hurt and bitterness, and it enabled them to move forward with their lives. “I forgive you, and my family forgives you.” That’s the attitude God wants every person to have. Colossians 3:13 says, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Incredible examples of forgiveness shouldn’t be the exception.

As difficult as forgiveness may seem, God calls on His children to extend forgiveness to others. A church that does not emphasize forgiveness has nothing to offer the world.

Nonbelievers know that Christians claim a high standard. When we fail to meet that standard, we open up the church to criticism and even ridicule. But when we allow Jesus to live His life in us and to do what for us might be impossible, we give evidence to the world that there exists a power far greater than any human power. Forgiving another in the face of hurt and loss is evidence of the working of a divine Agency—a manifestation of the grace of an almighty God. While human beings often choose to withhold forgiveness, we can only imagine our future if God took that same approach.

Eternity has been opened up to us because God chose to forgive us of our sins. One of the most remarkable verses in the Bible assures us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9).

God is willing to forgive us for all of our many wrongs.

He asks us to show the same love and mercy to others.

And we may if our hearts have been fully opened to Him.