Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32, ESV
I can write about forgiveness all day long. But, putting that advice into practice? That’s tough.
I tread lightly here, understanding that Bible verses, like our key verse, may have been shared in ways they were never intended to be taught. I also understand that circumstances that require forgiveness are messy and complex. Holding the above tension drives us to seek how Christ’s followers can obey this biblical mandate to forgive those who have sinned against us.
Many people need clarification about what forgiveness means. The easiest way to approach the definition is to talk about what forgiveness is not and then define what forgiveness is.
Forgiveness is not:
Forgiveness is not forgetting. There is much wisdom to be gained from circumstances that require forgiveness. We don’t have to forget what happened to us to move forward in obedience.
Forgiveness is also not approving of what another person did to you. Forgiveness does not erase the harm they caused or absolve their responsibility for their actions.
Forgiveness does not mean you will never experience strong emotions again about what happened. You are not required to suppress your feelings to forgive someone.
Finally, forgiveness is not a one-time decision, instead, it is a process that requires effort and intention.
Forgiveness is:
Forgiveness is recognizing…
Finish reading the full devotional at Crosswalk.com.
When we experience forgiveness for ourselves, other people will notice. They may never change, but they can be positively impacted by our decision to heal and keep our heart swept free from bitterness.
Listen to my podcast episode, Forgiving Your Addicted Loved One
