Growing in HopeSample

Jesus Forgives

To imitate God we must imitate Jesus. Remember, Jesus is God in the form of a human. He lived on earth and was fully God and fully man. He also lived a perfect and sinless life! He was able to do this by the close and perfect relationship He had with His Father. 

We, too, are children of God! We are now able to have a close relationship with the Father. Because of the relationship we have with God the Father we are able to live a more Christ-centered life!

Time and time again Jesus teaches His followers about forgiveness. In Matthew 6:14-15, He says, ”If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” 

Peter, one of Jesus’s disciples asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you not seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22 NIV)

Jesus was not just telling the disciples that they needed to forgive up to 490 times. In the Bible, 7 is the number that symbolizes perfection. Jesus was making a point that we are to forgive perfectly.

Jesus not only instructed His followers to forgive, He demonstrated it. We see many instances where Jesus forgave someone of their sins. But the ultimate gift of forgiveness that He gave takes us back to the cross.

“When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:33-34a)

At this point in Jesus’ life, He had been betrayed and abandoned by His close followers. All of the crowds who claimed to love Him had turned on Him and demanded that He die. He had been beaten, mocked, and stripped of all dignity. Even though He had never sinned, “He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24a NLT). Right in the middle of all of this is when Jesus utters the words, “Father, forgive them.” 

The Holy King, Jesus, forgave us, and we are supposed to imitate Him. The simple conclusion is that we must forgive others, too. Our friends. Our family members. Our  enemies. It does not matter how many times they have wronged us, or how much pain they have caused. Forgiving others is not an option. In order to imitate God, we must forgive.

As you ask Jesus who you need to forgive, either write their names and what you are forgiving them for down or say it out loud. If you feel like God may want you to go to them personally and either extend forgiveness or ask for forgiveness, take that step of faith and walk in obedience!

Prayer:
Father, I am Your child, and I want to become like You! Jesus forgave others. Jesus forgave me. So, I choose to forgive others. Show me who I need to forgive. I release all bitterness and anger. I give it to You! You have given me the love, grace and power to forgive each person who has wronged me. I choose to do so in Your Name. Amen.