Forgiveness

Forgiveness Over the years, I've heard both Christians and non-Christians say something like, "I may forgive, but I'm not going to forget." What they usually mean is, "I'm going to hold this offense as the ace up my sleeve and bring it out to beat the offender over the head with it, as soon as something else happens."It's not a true and complete forgiveness like the forgiveness Jesus offers us at His cross. It's a partial forgiveness with a grudge attached. In this context, there is never any true reconciliation or true restoration of friendship. It's just a lull in the storm waiting on the next tidal wave to sweep over you and bury you in a sea of bitterness. I've noticed that forgiveness is one of the things that almost all people struggle with. It seems to be required of us on a daily basis, even among close members of our family. Husbands and wives have a daily obligation to never "...let the sun go down on your anger." The reason most divorce happens is not primarily because of money issues or communication issues. It is because of lack of forgiveness. But, forgiveness has too sides to it. Sometimes, one person feels like they need no forgiveness and to suggest that they do is offensive to them. Often, the person who has been offended is waiting for a very specific apology. And, oddly enough, they have the proper wording of the apology they expect already in their minds, and if the offender doesn't say those specific words, then they won't accept it as a true apology. There are two Bible passages that should haunt us, when we are deciding whether or not to forgive someone:Right at the end of the Lord's prayer, Jesus said this: "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." ~ Matthew 6:14-15And, then, there is one in Colossians 3:13 where Paul instructs the church to "...bearing with each other and forgiving each other. If anyone should have a complaint against another, even as also the Lord has forgiven you, so also you."Listen to it carefully: "...forgiving...just as the Lord forgave you..." How complete is His forgiveness? That's how complete our forgiveness should be.Love always in Jesus,Pastor Monte Smith North Syracuse Christian Church https://www.facebook.com/NSyrCC