“But God showed His great love for us by
sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8)
Forgive someone from your heart now.
Say, “Father, forgive _________. They don’t know what they’re doing.” Thank God
for forgiving you in the same way.
The Bible says “A man reaps what he
sows” (Galatians 6:7). What have you been sowing? Peace, love, and kindness—all
of the time? If so, you’re in luck. But if not, what fate awaits you? This is a
tricky one, for the biblical principle of sowing and reaping still
stands. However, there is a higher law.
Forgiveness trumps Cause and
Effect—every time. When
Jesus was hanging on the cross—mid-crucifixion—He said to God on your
behalf, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke
23:34). Can you believe it? It’s hard enough for me to forgive someone after
they’ve hurt me, let alone while they are doing it. But in the middle of
crucifixion, being tortured and killed as the Son of God for coming to save His
own people, Jesus stands in the gap and tells God: I’m asking you not to hold
it against them; they don’t know what they’re doing.
The Bible says, “Love covers a
multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). When He died for you, His sacrifice stretched
over your sins and covered them completely, like a thick blanket.
Jesus completely absorbed your
punishment. He
said, “I’m going to take their punishment. They’re going to get the positive
consequences for my perfect actions (Heaven) and I’m going to take the dreadful
consequences for their actions (crucifixion).”
Now, who do you need to
forgive? Jesus said
it plainly, “But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive
your sins” (Mark 11:26). By holding on to a grudge, you’re disqualifying
yourself from Jesus’ forgiveness. Instead of holding a grudge, let someone have
the grace Jesus gave you. Say, “Father forgive them; they don’t know what they’re
doing, just as I don’t. Thank you so much for forgiving me.”
Forgiveness is the greatest need in the world. Today, receive God’s gift of forgiveness
to you and give it to someone else. 