The Power of Forgiveness

By: Lara Velez

Forgiveness can be a very difficult way to live. Forgiveness is extremely powerful. It can affect not only the person being forgiven, but the person doing the forgiving.

What does the Bible say about Forgiveness?

Esau forgave Jacob - In Genesis 27  Jacob has stolen his own brothers birthright and blessing! Esau was furious and vowed to kill him as soon as their father died. Jacob spent many years running. Then in Genesis 33:4-15 Esau forgives Jacob.

Most of us have had opportunities, material items, jobs, etc stolen from us. However, I would think that very few of us have experienced our sibling stealing our birthright and blessings (good wishes) from our Father.

Joseph forgave his brothers - In Genesis 37 Jacobs jealous brothers throw him in a pit and then sell him as a slave to a caravan on it's way to Egypt! He was a slave for years and went to prison before he was blessed with the position of second in command of all Egypt. Then in Genesis 45:3-15 he has an opportunity to really stick it to them. He doesn't! he forgives them, and even kisses and embraces them!

Can you even imagine? Your own family wanting you dead? Selling you into slavery? It's unimaginable. However, most of us have family feuds though. One family member angry at another. Siblings. Mother and child. Father and child.

Moses forgave Miriam and Aaron - In Genesis 12:1-10 they slander Moses, and God jumps to His defense and inflicts Miriam with leprosy. In stead of thinking...she got what she deserved...in Genesis 12:13 Moses begs God to heal her.

Has anyone ever wrongly accused you of something? Slandered you? Spoke rudely to you? Have you forgiven them?

Stephen forgave the angry mob - In Acts 7:60 while being stoned to death for being a Christian and speaking the truth he asks God to forgive them with his last breath!

If I was being stoned to death...I don't think that my last thoughts and words would be anything positive towards the ones stoning me, let alone asking God to forgive them! Maybe your a better person than I am.

Paul forgave his brothers and sisters in the Lord - In II Timothy 4:16 Paul forgives them for abandoning and forsaking him in his time of need.

Have you ever had close friends let you down? Have you forgiven them? or, are you still harboring unforgiveness and anger?

and finally, in Luke 23:34...

While innocently dying on the cross for our sins Jesus asked God to forgive the ones who put Him there! Our Savior was paying the ultimate agonizing price for not only our sins but the ones who killed Him...and He felt only love...He had no ill will...just love and forgiveness.

The examples that we just read show extremely evil wrongs that real people...regular people like you and me who forgave. They walked in forgiveness.

Why is it so hard for us to forgive someone for forgetting our birthday? Or, some other minor offense?

The Cost of Unforgiveness

Unforgiveness hinders our prayers. We are told in the book of Mark to let go of wrongs done to us and forgive before we pray.

Mark 11:25 - And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive them and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in Heaven may also forgive you your own failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

Unforgiveness will cost us more than we realize.

Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.

These are pretty scary words. You would think this would be enough to make us forgive...

Luke 6:37b - Acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released.

This is classic sewing and reaping. Forgive, and be forgiven. You give, you get.

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath and resentment and quarreling and slander be banished from you. And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another readily and freely, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 - Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so you must also forgive.

It is very clear that we must remember...we have been forgiven many sins. It is very clear that we must forgive others who have wronged us in any way. It is very clear that if we do not forgive...we will not be forgiven.

This is a very important thing to keep in mind. We cannot walk around thinking that we will stroll into Heaven when we've harbored unforgiveness in our hearts. These are not my words...They are Scripture. They are words from God to you and me. We must let it go. We need to learn to walk in forgiveness. We need to just forgive. It may be hard.

You may be thinking that you have every right to be angry at someone. They may have been completely wrong. It doesn't matter. You have been forgiven. I have been forgiven. We must forgive. No matter what the person did, and no matter how many times the person has wronged us.

Read Matthew 18:21-35. It is very clear on forgiveness. You may have read or heard it before...but it is definitely worth reading again...frequently...lest we forget.

I urge you to search deep in your heart. Pray. Be sure that you have let go of all wrongs done to you. Let go of all animosity. Let go of all anger and hostility. No matter how big the wrong. No matter how wrong they were. Release it.

I also want to point out that God loves you. He understands that there may be situations that are very difficult for you to let go and walk in forgiveness. God is simply looking for a willing vessel. If we go to Him, and tell Him we are having trouble forgiving, He WILL help us through. I believe this with my whole heart.

I struggle with this in my own life. I still have to take a couple of things to Him on a regular basis. I know that I want to forgive. And, I know that God will help me in His time. I also know that He knows my heart and if my heart is a forgiving one, He will have mercy and grace for me when I struggle with forgiveness.

Your assignment is to do the best you can to walk in forgiveness. Admit to your Daddy in Heaven when you just can't find the strength, and leave it with Him, and leave it with Him, and leave it with Him until it's gone.

God Bless You!

Copyright © Lara Velez

Article Source: http://faithandfamilyarticles.com

About the Author: Lara Velez is a Christian wife and Mother. She is called to minister to women. God has blessed her with two online ministries; Wives of Faith and Moms of Faith.

Note: All Scripture was taken from the Amplified Bible

The Power of Forgiveness