Today , we are looking at the power of forgiveness as a characteristic that should be a part of our life. The world seems to be catching on to what the church has known for a long time, and that is that forgiveness isn’t for the other person, it is a complete release for you. Forgiveness is finding freedom from the grip of anger. I really like Gary Chapman’s new definition of forgiveness. It is using honesty, compassion and self awareness to reconcile with someone who has hurt you. Everyone of us have had the opportunity to walk in unforgiveness, because everyone of us have been hurt by someone in some way or another. When we choose to forgive, we are releasing the power of love to cover over a wrong that was done to us. When we address relationships, there is always the potential for misunderstanding. As well as you can know someone before you marry them, (the more the better, I would say) after you say I do, there are still going to be areas where you will misunderstand each other. It happens in marriage, it happens in friendships, it happens at work, it even happens at church. People get offended, and sometimes will even borrow someone else’s offense and begin to walk in bitterness for the wrong that they perceived was done to them or the one they love. In life, perception really is everything! Can we as the body of Christ get past those kinds of situations? I believe we can, and it flows from choosing to love, and then choosing to operate in the characteristic of love which is forgiveness. Because we are believers, we have had the greatest example of all when it comes to forgiveness. Think of Jesus on the cross saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Think of Jesus being betrayed, and then breaking bread with his followers that same evening, knowing that his betrayer was in the room. The acts of service and love that Jesus did just at the last supper and the cross are some of the greatest examples we can find of how to make the choice to forgive. Jesus operated in love….the greatest lover of all time was the greatest forgiver of all time.
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