The Seriousness of ForgivenessSample

It’s Time to Forgive

Each of us has experienced moments when our efforts seem futile, our pockets have holes, and our gains slip through our fingers. We encounter hardship after hardship, and not just in our souls, but in our daily living. The strain often manifests as relational discord, a rebuke from those closest to us. How do we handle these instances when our pride clouds our judgment and impedes our ability to forgive?

The essence of this conundrum lies in our understanding of forgiveness. As beings forgiven an infinite debt by our Creator, we often forget the magnitude of our own transgressions when others offend us. We cling to a perceived moral high ground, ready to hold others accountable, forgetting our own frailty. This is a product of pride, and it starkly contrasts with the humility and honesty we need to embody.

We often find ourselves humbled when our pride oversteps, when we fall and suddenly require what we previously denied others – forgiveness. This may even occur in the same relationship where we had withheld forgiveness, making us realize the gravity of our mistakes. When we are humbled, we come to understand our true nature – our ability to forgive and ask for forgiveness.

True forgiveness, as our Lord urges, must come from the heart. It must be genuine. It is not a superficial act or a display of virtue. It is releasing someone from their debt to you, regardless of whether they ask for it.

Have you experienced this divine forgiveness? Have you been washed clean by the blood of our Savior, Jesus? If so, who among us can claim that someone else still owes them? Having been forgiven such a debt, are you still holding onto another’s transgression, choking them with your refusal to forgive? This is not just hard-heartedness but sin. Unforgiveness is sin.

If you find yourself in this predicament, yet you are truly forgiven, you will inevitably meet with the torturers. Your Father’s love for you will not allow this unforgiveness to stand. Whether it’s in your soul, circumstances, or relationships, you will be disciplined until you relent and set that person free.

So, I ask you, will you release them now? Will you forgive your brother or sister from your heart? Will you relinquish your pride and, in humility, let go of the debt they owe you? The freedom from surrendering your case to God and not seeking personal justice is indescribable. “Spurgeon, a famous 19th century preacher, once said, "If any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him, for you are worse than he thinks you to be.” Embrace the truth of this statement and forgive from your heart, as you have been forgiven. It's time to set others free, as you have been set free.

This devotional was based on a sermon by Richard Caldwell. To listen to this sermon and an episode of the Straight Truth Podcast related to this message, visit our website https://straighttruth.net/subtle-shifts-from-the-sufficiency-of-scripture-in-biblical-counseling/