Forgive and Be Free!

I came upon this definition of unforgiveness in an *AI Overview. "Unforgiveness is the refusal to release someone from an offense or wrongdoing, characterized by holding onto resentment, bitterness, and a desire for retribution."

When we hold onto the offense, refusing to allow the other person freedom from their actions, we are, in a sense, trying to enact justice upon them. We are making them pay for their wrong doing. We are NOT allowing them to move past the mistakes they made toward us.

There's a beautiful exchange that takes place when we forgive another. Not only do we receive a release from our pain, but the weight of the burden of sin can be lifted off of the offenders' shoulders, too.

Imagine with me that you have been wronged by someone. You are hurt deeply. You dwell on it, which causes the anxiety within you to sky rocket. You may spew angry words at that person. You may withhold any kindness, compassion and understanding as you deal with their sin against you.

This may leave them paying a dear price - peace in their relationship with you. It has been broken. Now THEIR sin has turned up on them. They, too, are living in hurt, regret, and pain. Their relationship with you is broken. They are living in the regret of their actions towards you. In a sense, YOU are making THEM pay for their wrong. You are enacting justice on them.

That's not the way of Jesus. He calls us to forgive. In Romans 12:19 we are given an opportunity to offer grace.

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "it is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

When we forgive one another, we are leaving the justice up to God. We are saying; "Lord, I forgive the one who wronged me. I will leave them in your hands." Our pastor Peter Haas says something like this, forgiveness is taking the sin against you off of your hook and putting it on God's hook." (paraphrased)

We are allowing our God to enact justice on the one who betrayed us. Which is an appropriate place for that justice because God alone knows their heart. He alone knows the deep scars which may have caused the pain they put on you.

You see, often times, we don't intend to hurt one another. In our own hurt we say and do things that aren't very honorable. If we're being honest with ourselves, we know that sometimes we are the offended but sometimes we are the offender.

Scriptures tell us that we are all sinners.

ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (emphasis mine)

It is ONLY by the precious blood of Christ that we are free!

Would you consider extending an olive branch today to the one who has hurt you? This doesn't mean you will allow yourself to be hurt again. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to "guard your heart for everything you do flows from it." But it DOES mean that you recognize your own need for grace and are willing to extend it to another.

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

Proverbs 17:9

My friend, this is to be a way of life for those who are followers of Jesus. When Peter asked Jesus how many times he must forgive his brother, Jesus answered saying, "Seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-11

Let's start offering grace today and practice forgiveness for the rest of our days.

Dear Jesus, we thank you for your gift of forgiveness. We thank you that you do not hold our sin against us but you gave your life so that we could stand before God on Judgment Day and be released from that burden. Because you paid the price with your precious blood. Let us not take that gift for granted.

Help us, Lord, to be vessels of grace. Help us to forgive others and to walk in the freedom that you offer through the process of forgiveness. We pray that as we forgive, you will lift the burdens off of our shoulders. May we walk with a joy and peace. May our relationships be restored and our offenders' be released. May they become vessels of your love, too.

We ask these things in your precious name, Jesus. Amen.

*AI Overview

*https://gr8relate.com/unforgiveness-in-the-bible-definition-scriptures-and-freedom-through-forgiveness/#:~:text=Defining%20Unforgiveness%20from%20a%20Biblical,Unforgiveness%20manifests%20as:

*https://bellevuechristiancounseling.com/articles/the-prison-of-unforgiveness#:~:text=What%20is%20Unforgiveness?,feeding%20on%20unforgiveness%20is%20toxic.

*Picture provided by Wix AI