Forgiveness (Part 1)

There is an epidemic disease that is running rampant in America. It is highly contagious. It is being passed on in families and in churches. It is a disease that cripples and takes the life right out of us. It seems there is no stopping this disease and yet the cure is available to all. This cure is not cheap, but it is readily available to all who will receive it.

I am talking about the disease of bitterness and the cure of forgiveness. Too many Christians are walking around with bitter hearts unable to forgive those whom they have been hurt by. As a people we too often undervalue the power of forgiveness and its ability to make a difference in our lives.

Although we may deny it, too many of us are holding on to hurts and offenses that have come our way. We deny the bitterness that we hold deep within, but we know it is there. A great way to expose the bitterness is to ask yourself if you had the opportunity to get even or get back at someone for the offense they caused you, would you take advantage of it?

Make no doubt about it, forgiveness is not cheap. It cost God the life of his beloved Son. It led the famous theologian, Detrich Bonhoeffer to say, “grace is free, but it is not cheap.” To forgive someone else may cost you your pride, your reputation, and your right to get even. But to not forgive that other person will cost you even more. You will go through life bitter and robbed of the joy God wants you to have. It will tear you apart from those you love and cause you to live in isolation. Worse of all it will work to create separation between you and God. When you fail to fully love others there is an negative impact no only on your relationship with others, but also upon your relationship with God.

Forgiveness is not an option. It is not a suggestion. It is a command. God knows there is no other option. When we forgive it is a choice of obedience. When we fail to forgive it is a choice of disobedience. And we should know he is not asking us to do anything he hasn’t already asked us to do.

That doesn’t mean it is not hard to do. There are many times I have not felt like extending forgiveness. It was not something I wanted to do. But how often has the thing God wanted for me and the thing that was best for me been the opposite of what I wanted to do? When I choose forgiveness I am making a sacrifice. I am sacrificing my will for the Father’s will. I am sacrificing my right for revenge and retribution.

Next week I would like to continue this discussion and talk about some practical ways to extend forgiveness to others and ways to experience full healing from bitterness.