Growing through Forgiveness—Two2Grow, Thursday, November 12
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” — Colossians 3:13b NIV
We live in a fallen and broken world. People hurt us. Sometimes the cuts go deep, very deep. Yet God commands us to forgive.
A problem we face is that forgiveness doesn’t come naturally to us. Often, we feel that holding on to an offense is a way of getting some kind of justice or protecting ourselves from getting hurt again. We can feel that it is not right to forgive before the person has shown remorse and repented.
But notice what today’s verse says: we are to forgive in the same way as Jesus forgave us.
What does that mean? Jesus forgave us before we asked Him and before we showed any signs of change.
The basis for God’s forgiveness is His own love—not any actions on the part of us who had caused the offense. We have God’s love in our hearts, and that love can give us the power to forgive. Forgiveness means letting the love of God in your heart swallow up all hurt and pain and letting God deal with the people.
Unforgiveness holds us back and hinders our progress in God. To hold fast to an offense goes contrary to the very nature of God, who is self-giving love.
Sometimes we get tricked into thinking that just because time has passed and we have forgotten about what happened, and we find ways of managing the pain, it means that we have forgiven. But God knows our hearts and sees everything. As we open ourselves more to God, what often happens is that the Holy Spirit starts to bring back memories of places where we need to forgive. So don’t be surprised when that happens. It is a sign of spiritual growth. And as you forgive, you will draw closer to the Lord as you imitate Him.
Jesus, give me the courage and strength to forgive those who have hurt me, just as You forgave. Holy Spirit, bring to my attention those whom I need to forgive but have forgotten about. Amen.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD
We live in a fallen and broken world. People hurt us. Sometimes the cuts go deep, very deep. Yet God commands us to forgive.
A problem we face is that forgiveness doesn’t come naturally to us. Often, we feel that holding on to an offense is a way of getting some kind of justice or protecting ourselves from getting hurt again. We can feel that it is not right to forgive before the person has shown remorse and repented.
But notice what today’s verse says: we are to forgive in the same way as Jesus forgave us.
What does that mean? Jesus forgave us before we asked Him and before we showed any signs of change.
The basis for God’s forgiveness is His own love—not any actions on the part of us who had caused the offense. We have God’s love in our hearts, and that love can give us the power to forgive. Forgiveness means letting the love of God in your heart swallow up all hurt and pain and letting God deal with the people.
Unforgiveness holds us back and hinders our progress in God. To hold fast to an offense goes contrary to the very nature of God, who is self-giving love.
Sometimes we get tricked into thinking that just because time has passed and we have forgotten about what happened, and we find ways of managing the pain, it means that we have forgiven. But God knows our hearts and sees everything. As we open ourselves more to God, what often happens is that the Holy Spirit starts to bring back memories of places where we need to forgive. So don’t be surprised when that happens. It is a sign of spiritual growth. And as you forgive, you will draw closer to the Lord as you imitate Him.
Jesus, give me the courage and strength to forgive those who have hurt me, just as You forgave. Holy Spirit, bring to my attention those whom I need to forgive but have forgotten about. Amen.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD