ABC's of Godly Character - F

F is for Forgiveness! Forgiveness is the ability to overlook another person’s weaknesses or mistakes by expressing Christ’s love. We are to forgive, let go of that wrong, and forget it! If we bring it back up every time we are upset then we haven’t truly forgiven them. If we can’t forgive another person, then why should Christ forgive us? Forgiveness is hard, and sometimes the last thing we want to do, but we must. Colossians 3:13 tells us to “Make allowance for each others faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (ESV). Do we have to keep on forgiving others that do us wrong or can we just write them off and be done with them? Matthew 18:21-22 tells us that Peter asked the same thing: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (ESV) This doesn’t mean we should forgive someone 77 times. It means that just like Christ gives us never-ending forgiveness we should offer the same to others. Forgive every time someone seeks our forgiveness. Colossians 3:12-14 says “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (ESV) In these verses, Paul gives us instructions to help us live for God every day. We should have Christ’s forgiving attitude. We should let love guide our thoughts and life. We should have peace in our hearts and with others. Every action, every word we speak, and every attitude we have either reflects a life for Christ or of Satan. Which one will you choose to represent today? 

Matthew West sings “Forgiveness”: It flies in the face of all your pride, It moves away the mad inside, It's always anger's own worst enemy, Even when the jury and the judge, Say you gotta right to hold a grudge, It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free', Forgiveness. Show me how to love the unlovable, Show me how to reach the unreachable, Help me now to do the impossible, Forgiveness, Forgiveness.” 

Prayer starter: Dear God, thank you for always forgiving me even though I don’t deserve it. Please give me a forgiving heart like yours. Help me to be more forgiving to others today. Amen.

          Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be more forgiving today. Offer forgiveness to the people that have hurt you and more forward from there.