Fathers Who Forgive

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-16 (New Living Translation)

Now that’s serious business, and if it’s not enough of an incentive to learn to forgive, then we’re not sure there’s anything else we could do to convince you. But we won’t give up trying!

“But you don’t know what they did to hurt me.”

Yes, we do because we’ve all been hurt by other people. To be completely honest, we’ve also caused other people to be hurt, so yes, we do know, and this is why we want to hang out a bit and talk about forgiving. 

Forgiving is kind of like a really big deal. Why? Because of our sin nature, we’re all doomed. But God, the sacrificially loving example of how to be a nurturing dad, forgave us so that we might continue in a relationship with Him and come to know a blessed life as we’ve never experienced before. 

God loved us so much that He gave his only begotten Son as a sacrificial atonement of our sins so we may be forgiven of those same transgressions that keep us away from Him. Forgiveness is an ultimate act of freedom that we are afforded because God loved us and forgave us first. Dad, ask for forgiveness and forgive others. It’s the greatest gift you can give yourself and your kids.

Dad Action:

Write out the names of three people who you have hurt you and that you must forgive.