Forgive!

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”   — Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT FORGIVENESS 

Think of “forgive” as intentionally deciding to let go of anger or resentment.  The Bible teaches extensively about forgiveness and its importance. In essence, forgiveness is the act of pardoning someone who has wronged you or hurt you in some way. It involves letting go of any bitterness or resentment that you may feel towards that person and choosing to extend grace and mercy to them instead.

Jesus teaches that you are to forgive others as you have been forgiven by God. In addition, the Bible teaches that forgiveness is not an optional action for Christians but an essential part of our relationship with God and with others.

Forgiveness involves more than just saying the words “I forgive you.” It also means choosing to forget the offense and not bringing it up again in the future. We are called to release the person who wronged us from any debt they may owe us and to bless them instead.

HINTS FOR FORGIVING OTHERS

The following are a few tactics for becoming more forgiving:

1. Be Patient.  In the above Biblical Foundation, “bear with one another” means be patient (calm and composed) in reflecting on the hurt another has caused you. Thoughtfully reflecting on the hurt can help to let go of anger caused by the hurt.  
2. Review How God Forgives.  Reflecting on this review will encourage us to follow God’s lead in being more forgiving. 
3. Seek Help.  Ask God to help you follow His lead in being forgiving.  Being forgiving is not easy and God’s help in our quest to be forgiving will be of immense help.
4. Choose to Forgive.  Recognize the value of forgiving others and decide to forgive to improve your life.