Topic: Forgiveness [Thursday, 9th Mar. 2017]
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:13
Forbearing, as used in this passage, means to tolerate, or rather to accommodate. As people coexisting with one another, we have to learn how to accommodate our differences and try to understand one another, without which we would run into a lot of conflicts occasioned by this misunderstanding and differences in approach to issues. It is quite unfortunate that Christians do not deem it necessary to understand one another’s differences, and always wants to enforce their stance. This inevitably leads to misunderstanding. This takes us to the issue of forgiveness.
When there is a misunderstanding between two or more persons, it is paramount that they forgive themselves. Here are a few reasons we should forgive. Firstly, it is a show of love. We, as disciples of Christ, have been commanded to love (John 13:34). And 1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP) tells us love “is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].”
Secondly, we are to look up to God as our perfect example (Matthew 5:48), and as God forgave our sins, so we ought to forgive one another. When we were commanded to forgive by scriptures, it was in our own best interests, as it frees our heart of burdens and strengthens our relationship with one another, drawing us closer to God.
Keep winning daily.
Wise Action:
Write down a list of everyone that has offended you, and consciously forgive them. Choose also to forgive every future offences against you.
By Esun Tekeme
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