By Kevin R Schultz

Forgiveness

3-28-2024

  Now when I decided on this subject I thought it would be a simple little post. Then I started looking at all the information on this subject. I knew it would be a rather large post. We will look at both the secular and spiritual aspects of forgiveness. 

  First we will look at what forgiveness means in the secular world. 

  We mere humans can and do forgive & forget like we should, however when it comes to the forgetting part a lot of times we don’t forget, we just file it away for later use. Usually with very bad results, like ruined relationships, hurt feelings, and enemies for a lifetime.

  We can’t seem to get past our bruised egos. We get set in our ways and thoughts and cannot see or understand that by not forgiving the hurts someone else has done to us can harden our hearts. The unforgiveness locks in the pain and anger within ourselves. This leads to these things happening…

1. Makes it hard for us to trust others, it’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Wondering if you can trust this person, asking is he/she going to break my heart or not.
2. The stress of keeping all that pain, anger, and wondering what that person is up to can cause some serious health issues.
3. It can also change your personality from a pleasant, kind hearted, always wanting to help others to a mean spirited person who only wants to chase others away. Which is a very sad and lonely way to live.

  We must realize that by filing away the hurt that was caused us, we are not forgiving the person/persons. I have forgiven many who have caused me hurt and still have a good relationship with them. Then there are others who I have forgiven but due to the problems and hurt they have caused me I could never trust them again.

  Now how can I say I forgave them and still not trust them. Well knowing how they are I go by these set of rules…

1. Is helping them in God’s will. – If this is what God wants me to do, I am all for it.

2. Are they the only ones to get anything out of it? – If they are the only ones to gain anything from helping them (they are doing this for themselves and claiming it is for God) then I will not help them.

3. There must be others that are being helped, other than the one asking for help.

4. Before doing anything, whatever the situation is I need to take it to God in prayer.

  Now for Christians we are commanded to forgive. We are also commanded to do God’s will in everything we do.

  Read Matthew 6:10, then read Matthew 6:12, then read Matthew 6:14-15. In verse 10 we are being told to  do God’s will in everything we do. In verse 12 we are told to forgive those who have sinned against us, so God can forgive our sins.     Verses 14 -15 are more specific instructions on this topic for us to follow…

Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) *Some bibles use trespasses and others use the sins.

14  “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

  You see God does tell us to forgive those that trespass or sin against us. So how can God show us understanding or mercy when we don’t show it towards those that have sinned against us? 

  Now I know this is not always easy to do, from personal experience. There are times this is very easy to do when I get more information on what was said and why it was said. It could be just a simple misunderstanding. Then there are the times when it takes you totally by surprise and don’t understand why. 

  These are the times you take it and give it to God in prayer. Ask God for understanding what happened, strength and wisdom in dealing with it. And more importantly ask God for the strength in forgiving whatever the sin was.

  Now let us look and see what we gain when we can forgive those who have caused us hurt…

1. We have a piece of mind, a calmness of the spirit.
2. An ability to possibly heal a wounded heart.
3. Repair a broken relationship. 
4. And most importantly any blessings from God, by being able to forgive God can now forgive us.

  Now out all these #4 is the most important. I do not want to miss out on any blessings that God wants to send my way. I know this sounds a bit greedy, but these blessings will only come my way if I am doing God’s will in my life.