Forgive One Another

On February 10, 2016, Ingrid Williams was driving her three children in Oklahoma City, OK when another car veered across the highway, hitting them head-on. The three children survived, and a few days later their father, NBA coach Monty Williams, stood before the crowd gathered at Ingrid’s funeral and asked them to forgive the driver who took his wife’s life: “We cannot serve the Lord if we do not have a heart of forgiveness.”

Forgiveness is rarely easy. Whether you’re forgiving the person who killed your wife, or a much smaller grievance, it’s rarely easy; however, it’s God’s standard for His people. As forgiven people, we are to be forgiving people.

In Psalm 7, David offers us an honest look at the journey of forgiveness:

Forgiveness starts with a specific prayer (v.1-2). David’s prayer wasn’t generic. He went directly to the Lord with his hurt, trusting God to deliver him.

Forgiveness requires me to own up to my part (v.3-4). David is not being rhetorical when he says, “Maybe I did something to cause this or make it worse.” Most opportunities for forgiveness include shared responsibility.

Forgiveness is often two steps forward and one step back (v.6). Forgiveness is always a process, and the deeper the hurt the longer the process.

Notice how David navigates that process in v.7-11:

• He doesn’t disconnect from God’s people (v.7).
• He submits himself to the Lord’s judgment (v.8).
• He acknowledges that God’s judgments are righteous (v.9).
• He pleads for God to intervene (v. 9).
• He renews his trust in God (v.10).

Forgiveness happens best when my eyes are fixed on Jesus (v.7-10). Of course, David wrote this long before God would send Jesus to demonstrate the depth of His forgiveness for mankind, but David still knew that forgiveness only happens in God’s power. When we take our eyes off Jesus, vengeance becomes a temptation (v.11-16); when we focus on Jesus, we’ll be reminded of the Lord’s goodness, which helps us forgive (v.17).

Groundwire is an online chat ministry that points people to Jesus for forgiveness. Will you consider joining us as we introduce hurting people to the One Who can forgive them fully: https://www.groundwire.net/coaching

Prayer: Father, as You have forgiven me in Jesus, please help me to forgive those who hurt me.