We are all supposed to forgive people who wrong us. Forgiveness happens when we erase our record of the wrong that someone has done to us.
In almost all cases there is a period of time between the time when we are wronged and the time when we decide to forgive. It may be minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or even years. Yes, sometimes people take years to forgive. They may suffer from anguish and resentment in the meantime until they decide to forgive. The sooner you forgive, the healthier it is for you. Forgiveness has a win-win-win-lose impact. When you forgive, you win, the person you forgive wins, and the Lord is pleased. The only one who loses is the devil. Who cares if the devil loses? He has been like that for more than 2,000 years, anyways.
One of the most famous love verses says this about love: “It keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Cor 13:5
Remember what Jesus said when he was on the cross? He said “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:24. This He said while on the cross being pierced. He took no time to forgive them and even pray for them. He did it right there and then. He was still soaked in blood hanging on the cross when he said it. He didn’t record what they are doing to Him. He offered them instant forgiveness if only they had accepted it.
In Acts Ch 7 Stephen also did the exact same thing. He said “Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Acts 7:60 while being stonned to death.
Talk about expertise, Jesus and Stephen are experts of forgiveness. When you are an expert in something, you do it fast.
Forgive His way,
The Cyber Evangelist
|