Forgiveness is a deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance, towards a person or group who have offended you. It is also choosing to let the offence go every time you remember it. From the looks of things, Forgiveness is a virtue and like every other virtue, it is hard to practice. It can be difficult, so here are reasons to forgive others:
Without further ado, here are 5 reasons to forgive others:
1. You are forgiven
Forgiveness is such a big deal that our journey to salvation hinges on God’s forgiveness of our sin (1 John 1:9). The Bible in Ephesians 4:2 and Colossians 3:13 tell us to forgive as we have been forgiven by our Father.
The clause “as your Father forgave you” is added in Colossians 3:13 for a very good reason. God did not wait for us to realize our sin before choosing to forgive us. This is such a good reason to also extend forgiveness and grace to others. We know what it means to be forgiven, especially when we did not nothing to earn it. Likewise, we are to forgive those who offend us.
We know what it means to be forgiven, especially when we did not nothing to earn it. Likewise, we are forgive those who offend us. Click To Tweet2. We have been instructed to forgive
The expression of our love for God is in our forgiveness of others. In fact, we cannot truly love without forgiveness. The Bible is replete with instructions to forgive others. (Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 18:22)
Forgiveness is a virtue and like every other virtue, it's hard to practice. Click To TweetJesus Himself said in Matthew 18:22 that we should forgive seventy times seven offences. He was not implying that we should become unforgiving once a person offends us that much. Rather, He was teaching us to forgive even when the offences are enormous.
3. Forgiveness sets you free from the pain of anger
When we choose to hold on to anger, we are not only hurting others but ourselves. It becomes hard to be free around the person who has offended us so much that when their names come up, it like something tightens in our chest.
Anger is stored up in our hearts when we do not forgive and this is detrimental to our wellbeing. Forgiveness heals us and gives us peace, you should consider it today.
4. You are not above offense
Have you ever examined how you would feel if you sincerely apologized to someone you offended and the person still refuses to forgive you? The truth is, even the best of us offend people and require their forgiveness. If you will one day need forgiveness, why not forgive others?
Have you ever examined how you would feel if you sincerely apologized to someone you offended and the person still refuses to forgive you? Click To Tweet5. You can forgive
Some offences are more difficult to let go, but we can always forgive as children of God. Philippians 4:13 says that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Even in an impossible situation of forgiveness, you can forgive. You can direct and control our emotions by your declaration. So yes, regardless of how much you have been offended, you have the strength and the ability to forgive constantly.
I hope you find these 5 reasons to forgive others constantly convincing? Do you have other reasons? Please share in the comment section below. We can’t wait to hear from you!
You can also read “Forgiveness: A Doing Word” or “Forgive and Forget“.
Written by Iyadunni Dimka
this is so timely for me , thank you!
Awesome. Glad it was helpful.