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FOUR REASONS TO FORGIVE

by Olawale Ogunsola  
8/27/2017 / Christian Living

     “Behold, I was brought forth in

          Iniquity,

     And in sin my mother conceived me.”     Psalm 51:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

 

     These are the words of the Psalmist that describes the true state of every man. No man born of a woman is in his perfect spiritual state. As a result of this, there will always be wrongdoings or mistakes among imperfect people who relate with each other, one may offend the other intentionally or unintentionally.

 

     Every man has his hopes and aspirations. In a attempt to achieve them, it is possible  for him to step on some toes.

 

     Therefore, what do you do in case someone offends you?

 

     A common response of  any man to his offender is to immediately pay him back in his own coin or retaliate at a convenient time.

 

     This is wrong.

     Now, let us briefly examine four reasons, among others.

1. It is a commandment of the Lord that you must obey. The Lord commands,

     “Take heed to yourself. If your brother sins against you,

     Rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

     And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven

     times in a day returns to you, saying, “I repent, you shall forgive him.”

     Do you know that if you are a sincere and genuine believer in Jesus Christ, you must obey this commandment too? It is evidence that you love the Lord as well as yourself. The Lord’s desire from you is,

     “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My words, and My father with

     Love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.     John 14:23.

 

     An essential question to ask yourself  is “Do I love Jesus Christ?”  Probe your heart to answer this question rightly. If your answer is “yes”, then obey His word ( that is His commandment) to forgive anyone who sins (offends) you.

 

2. It is a bridge you cannot avoid to pass through to receive your own forgiveness.

What do I mean? Let the Scriptures explain it  as it reads,

     “Forgive our debts (sins),

     As we forgive our debtors (those who sin against us)”     Matthew 6:12.

 

      This shows that if you forgive whoever offends you, you have fulfilled the condition for you to receive forgiveness from your Father in Heaven, the Creator of the Heaven and the Earth.

 

     To forgive means to show compassion. If you show compassion to your brother, you will receive compassion from your Creator. (Mathew 18:21-35).

 

     The Psalmist says,

    “He (God) has not dealt with us according

     To our sins,

     Nor punished us according to our

     Iniquities.”     Psalm 103:10.

     If the Lord were to mark iniquities, no one will be free. Do not see yourself as being free from doing wrong; it is the mercy of God that you enjoy. Show mercy by forgiving anyone who offends you.

 

3. It is an evidence that you resemble the Master and your Heavenly Father. The Lord Jesus in pain on the cross forgave His persecutors who crucified Him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34.

Not only that, He forgave a criminal who had been so throughout his life. He promised him (the criminal who repented,

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me

In paradise.”   Luke 23:43. NKJV.

Do you want to be like your Master Jesus Christ? Forgive others.

 

4. It is evidence that you love yourself. Note that the two conditions that come before loving others are

(i) To love the Lord with everything you have and are.

(ii) The second is to love yourself. After this, you can love others. You are to love others by the standard of love that you have for yourself.

If you, therefore, forgive those who do wrong to you, you love God and others so that you will enjoy all benefits attached to forgiveness.

 

     Do you love yourself? Show it! Do you want to be forgiven?  Demonstrate the same.

 

     If you have the Spirit of forgiveness, it is to your advantage in this life and the life to come.

Stay blessed and prepared for the coming of the Lord.

NOTE

All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version of the Holy Bible.

The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church.He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.

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