Strength for the ChallengeSample

Forgive Everyone

We all know someone who absolutely refuses to forgive. The offense may be fresh or it may have happened a lifetime ago. But like a tree being strangled by a vine, that person is dying. The tree is bigger, taller, and stronger than its attacker, but it is doomed. Unless the vine is killed at the root, it will consume a little more of the tree’s strength and beauty every day. The tree is going to fall—the only question is when. For some unfortunate people, this slithering snake’s nest of unforgiveness is such an obsession they actually keep a list of offenders. Some take real pleasure in letting the worst offenders know in no uncertain terms that they are on the list. But believers must never keep such a list—we are to forgive everyone of everything. Why? Jesus said, “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15 NIV). We can all admit that the list of our own sins is more than sufficient to keep us out of God’s presence for good. Yet He is willing to forgive us—and happy to help us do the same for others.