Forgive as Jesus Forgives
Bear with one another, and forgive one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. -Colossians 3:12-13
Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts we can ever receive. And being a gift, forgiveness is completely undeserved and unearned. No matter how hard we might work for it, the person we hurt or betray has to choose to forgive it to us. Then, when that person does forgive us, the act is a great expression of love.
In today's verse, Paul was telling the believers at Colossae how to live as God's chosen people. He listed virtues the believers should posses. Compassion, kindness, humility, etc. He then told them to "bear with one another, and forgive one another" as Christ has forgiven them. Paul followed that thought saying that love binds all these virtues together.
One of the most God-honoring acts we can do is to forgive one another. When we forgive, we are doing for others what God has done for us. God's forgiveness of us is a profound demonstration of His love for us, and when we forgive others, the act is a profound demonstration of our love. The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor, and our forgiveness of someone is an expression of love for that person. Granted, the person we forgive may not care or even know about our forgiveness, but we will know. And Jesus will know.
By God's grace, we have been forgiven of much, and by His grace, He enables us to forgive much. May we remember all that Jesus has done for us and reflect that in the way we respond to and forgive others.
Prayer : Father, help me to forgive those who have wronged me. Thank You for constantly forgiving me when I wrong You. Amen.
Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts we can ever receive. And being a gift, forgiveness is completely undeserved and unearned. No matter how hard we might work for it, the person we hurt or betray has to choose to forgive it to us. Then, when that person does forgive us, the act is a great expression of love.
In today's verse, Paul was telling the believers at Colossae how to live as God's chosen people. He listed virtues the believers should posses. Compassion, kindness, humility, etc. He then told them to "bear with one another, and forgive one another" as Christ has forgiven them. Paul followed that thought saying that love binds all these virtues together.
One of the most God-honoring acts we can do is to forgive one another. When we forgive, we are doing for others what God has done for us. God's forgiveness of us is a profound demonstration of His love for us, and when we forgive others, the act is a profound demonstration of our love. The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor, and our forgiveness of someone is an expression of love for that person. Granted, the person we forgive may not care or even know about our forgiveness, but we will know. And Jesus will know.
By God's grace, we have been forgiven of much, and by His grace, He enables us to forgive much. May we remember all that Jesus has done for us and reflect that in the way we respond to and forgive others.
Prayer : Father, help me to forgive those who have wronged me. Thank You for constantly forgiving me when I wrong You. Amen.
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