The Wonders In Forgiveness

The Power of Forgiveness

Mark 11:25

Don't Forget to Forgive

"When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” 

(What does forgiveness look like? Some describe it as giving up the right to revenge or the obligation to "get even." Perhaps you have heard the phrase "forgive and forget." I think God’s forgiveness looks more like that, because He said of Himself, "I will blot out your sins and will never think of them again" (Isaiah 43:25).

Forgive for Forgiveness

When someone hurts us, it is so difficult to even want to forgive them – I sometimes get so angry that I can’t even think, let alone pray. But after a while, I remember Jesus’ instructions: "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15). In other words, hanging on to our unforgiveness hinders our intimacy with God.

You Forgive Others

The Apostle Paul instructed, "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). No matter what someone has done – or how many times they have offended you – Jesus said we should still forgive them, according to the Parable of the Debtor in Matthew 18. This is not a command to stay in a physically unhealthy or emotionally abusive relationship. But "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8), and with forgiveness, God’s love can redeem anyone and any relationship.

God Forgives You

After God has helped us forgive others and mend relationships, we turn to Him in repentance for our own sins. We know that "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9). King David wrote of the joy and relief we can experience when the Lord forgives us: "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!" (Psalm 32:1).

Forgiveness is Like Insurance

Matthew 6:14 - "If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" 

 I hate paying health insurance…when I'm healthy. But when I'm sick, you can bet it's a different story. I am so thankful for cheap doctor's visits and prescriptions that would normally cost me hundreds--hundreds that I don't have. Did you know that forgiveness is kind of like health insurance?

Our Souls Are Sick

You see, just like with the human body that is prone to sickness and disease, our souls are prone to sin and decay. That is why Jesus came: to save us from our sick souls. "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval" (Jesus, Mark 2:17). Did you know that the word "salvation" actually refers to salve, a kind of healing ointment? So imagine your sick soul, with all it's hurts and failings, and Jesus coming to put an eternally-healing salve on it that He paid for with His own blood. That's the good news of the Gospel: that there is hope for our healing in Jesus. And it's given freely to everyone who wants it. However, Jesus gives one major caution…

"If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failures" (Matthew 6:14-15).

You see, forgiving those who have hurt us is how we stay enrolled in our soul insurance policy. This soul insurance policy is incredible: God promises to forgive every one of our sins and bring us to Heaven with Him. We do nothing to earn it. But we tell Him that we still gratefully receive His amazing insurance policy by forgiving others. Listen to this story Jesus told to illustrate it:

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked Him, 'Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven.

That is why the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to do this, a servant who owed him millions of dollars was brought to him. Because he could not pay off the debt, the master ordered him, his wife, his children, and all that he had to be sold to pay off the account. Then the servant fell at his master's feet and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay everything!' The master felt sorry for his servant, freed him, and canceled his debt. But when that servant went away, he found a servant who owed him hundreds of dollars. He grabbed the servant he found and began to choke him. 'Pay what you owe!' he said. Then that other servant fell at his feet and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you.' But he refused. Instead, he turned away and had that servant put into prison until he would repay what he owed. The other servants who worked with him saw what had happened and felt very sad. They told their master the whole story. Then his master sent for him and said to him, 'You evil servant! I canceled your entire debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you have treated the other servant as mercifully as I treated you?' His master was so angry that he handed him over to the torturers until he would repay everything that he owed. That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if each of you does not sincerely forgive other believers'" (Matthew 18:21-35).

Am I Really Forgiving People?

Whew. That gets me. I have recently been dealing with lots of hurts and tough situations, but the intense amount of offense I have committed toward God pales in comparison with how others might have hurt me. Most of the time, people don't even know that they've badly hurt you. That's why Jesus said to God about us, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing" (Luke 23:34). If Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, can say that about all the people who brutally killed him, then I can certainly give grace to others when it's been so lavishly given to me. That's how I stay insured for the many, many sins I need God to forgive me for. "Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be treated mercifully" (Jesus, Matthew 5:7).

Has Your Insurance Lapsed?

Every now and then, my insurance provider calls me if I'm late on a bill, saying, "You are about to be without coverage soon." That's scary because if something bad were to happen, I'd be on my own. But then I just pay my bill, and I'm re-enrolled, totally covered. God wants to give you complete coverage for all your sins and soul hurts, even if you have been without coverage for a while due to unforgiveness. Instead of paying your bill, you pray your bill by forgiving those who have hurt you from your heart. Something I do when I am trying to forgive someone (because it can be hard sometimes!) is I pray blessings for them whenever I think of them. Instead of thinking evil thoughts towards them, I pray for all the good things I can think of: that they would be blessed, God would be near them, they would have their heart's desires, etc. In fact, this is exactly what Jesus commands: "But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" (Matthew 5:44). This practical tip helps you daily forgive people, because some wounds are very deep and you need to daily apply the salve of forgiveness until they're healed. The key is just that we keep applying it.

Who Do You Need to Forgive?

Have you been living "uninsured?" I know I have. Why don't you take a moment to think of hurts that have been trapped in your heart. Releasing them will not only free you of their weight, but it will open you up to receive God's amazing insurance policy of forgiveness and healing. Let's pray a prayer of blessing for them, telling God we give them mercy just as He has given us so much mercy. Thank Him for all of the sins He has forgiven: His forgiveness is truly amazing!