Life Changing Forgiveness
There is nothing so painful and characterized by darkness as unforgiveness in our lives. The real truth is unforgiveness is an open door for Satan to come in to harass and torment us. The first step toward healing is to acknowledge our need. “O Lord, for the depths of despair I cry for your help. Hear me! Answer! Help me!” Ps 130:4 How we need God to show us the destruction unforgiveness is capable of working within us. We can begin to pray that God may open our eyes and “… open their eyes to their true condition so that they may repent and live in the light of God instead of in Satan’s darkness, so they may receive forgiveness for their sins and God’s inheritance along with all people everywhere whose sins are cleanses away, who are set apart by faith in me.” Acts 26:18
God has provided through Christ such overwhelming grace that we can truly bathe our lives in forgiveness. Those who have been forgiven much sincerely love God and our Savior Jesus with a special grateful love. Jesus then offers us access to the throne of mercy. “O Lord you are so good and kind so ready to forgive; so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.” Ps 86:5 And the reward of extending forgiveness to others is life-changing, bringing us into a closer more personal relationship with Jesus. We all experience hurt, some profound, yet we should never be afraid of the hurt we have experienced. It has no power over us when we take it to God. This hurt is like a precious offering, a sacrifice given back to God. In exchange He desires to use the hurt to change us into the very image of Christ. In this transaction we are transformed to become sensitive, compassionate caring people. Let us not put off what is so liberally available. “A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain.” Samuel Johnson
The Christian’s capacity to love others is enlarged through recognizing how deeply we have been forgiven. “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph 4:32 When we offer a pardon to those who have hurt us we have the chance to see others through the eyes of Christ. Let us pass beyond the darkness of our personal pain and accept God’s life-changing forgiveness.