Forgive One Another | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | June 12, 2023

Forgive One Another | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | June 12, 2023

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

One of the hardest things we are called to do as a Christian is to forgive others who have wronged us. Some issues may seem minor and petty and in those cases, forgiveness may come easier as a believer. But what about the deep wounds we are called to forgive; the wrongs done to us that leave a profound hurt? What do we do with reconciliation when another person has not even asked for or desired it? It can become a subject to avoid at all costs. If it can just be buried somehow or swept under the rug, we can kick the can down the road for another day and maybe it will just go away. But outside of Christ, those hurts never truly heal.

Paul gives a clear charge in Ephesians 4 on this matter: forgive as Christ forgave you. Being we have been forgiven of much, we are also to forgive much. We are not to hold a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5) as Christ’s love compels us to love differently than this world. When we forgive and truly leave it in God’s hands, we relinquish our power and control over that situation and person. There is vulnerability and risk in forgiveness. But if we truly trust Jesus and want to live more like Him, we forgive as He forgave. We are grateful He does not hold our accounts over our heads. Because of His sacrifice, we are made free. Our forgiveness of someone else may be the spark that points them to Christ.

Question for today: Is there anyone in my life I am struggling to extend forgiveness to?

Pray: Jesus, You modeled to me what forgiveness looks like. Thank You. Help me today to model that same example to those I need to forgive.

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