Day 2: Ephesians 2:1-3:21
The question of how to forgive others even when we feel they don’t deserve it is one that many struggle with. Many people have wrestled with unforgiveness, including me. It is so hard to forgive. It is in our nature to hold onto things, which makes it hard to let go of the pain others have caused us. It also makes it hard to forgive ourselves. However, God calls us to forgive.
In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus says, “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.” He doesn’t just say this to force us to forgive others. Instead, it is because He wants us to experience the freedom that comes with forgiveness. One of my favorite quotes about unforgiveness is “Unforgiveness is choosing to stay trapped in a jail cell of bitterness, serving time for someone else’s crime.”
By not forgiving others, we are trapping ourselves in that pain and bitterness. Jesus said this to help us be free. Finally, we should forgive because we are forgiven. God forgave you and me when we did not deserve it. We strive to be like Christ, so let’s forgive like Him. As you read this section, think about how God forgave you and how you can implement that into your life.
Pastor Ben