Words to Grow On

Archive Devotions

May 30, 2005

Forgiveness....An Act of Love

by

Esther Wilson

One time I was sitting in my living room, absolutely livid at a group of people who I felt had wronged me completely. I sat there thinking to myself, turning over all the incidents in my mind, where I was wronged and I tried to console myself by thinking, "Well, that's okay, they want to leave me out, God will deal with them."

When I went to bed that night I began to feel very uneasy, almost vengeful. It wasn't enough to put the whole thing in God's hands. Instead, I found myself thinking, "I sure hope the Lord brings all this up when they all stand before Him on the Day of Judgment."

Almost immediately the Lord broke into my thoughts and said to me, "I'll be glad to bring it up as long as you don't mind Me bringing up all the stupid things you've done!" I began laughing . heavenly laughter! In that instant, I completely understood Jesus' words, " If you do not forgive men, then your [heavenly] Father will not forgive your transgressions ." (Matthew 6:15)

The journey of the past ten years of my life has taught me that if I don't forgive, then the root of bitterness will set into my heart. That bitterness seeped into every aspect of my life. I once read that 90% of the cases of depression in this country stem from either the need to be forgiven or the need to forgive.

Hurt has got to be one of the major problems in our society. It is not wrong to be hurt, but the way you deal with your hurt makes all the difference in the world. For us to be free from the problems and hurts of our past and to be free from the consequences that continue to plague us. we must forgive. This is a godly absolute, and God absolutely will not change His stand on this!

So what is forgiveness? Forgiveness is a decision, a choice, a decision to obey God. Forgiveness isn't a suggestion God has given to us - it's a commandment. God didn't say to me, "Esther, I really think it would be a good idea if you just find it in your heart to do some forgiving." C'mon. no way! He says, "Esther , forgive "!

Forgiveness is a choice of obedience to God and it's something that can take place in the privacy of your own heart. The opposite of forgiveness is unforgiveness, and unforgiveness has two cousins - resentment and bitterness. If someone walks in the door and just that person's very presence causes your blood pressure to rise, then there's an issue of resentment. If someone mentions a name, and you get a "check" in your spirit because it reminds you of another person by the same name.that's evidence that something's wrong. The Lord may be trying to tell you that you haven't forgiven.

Bottom line: Quite simply, if I refuse to forgive (or say I can't) what I am really saying is that holding on to my hurt is more important to me than going on with God. I believe now that there is no way I can grow spiritually until I put on the dress of forgiveness.

Best of all, forgiveness will free me to continue growing in the Lord and to become the woman that God intends me to be.

"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive

you your transgressions."

Mark 11:25