UNPACK This...Forgiving One AnotherSample

Are You Willing To Forgive?

Unfortunately, all too often fractures exist between star players and their franchises due to a contract dispute, a team moving on from the players before they’re ready, or countless other reasons.

When players feel wronged, they can easily develop feelings of bitterness toward their organization. But as fans, we’re always hopeful that franchises and their former players will mend their relationships and work together moving forward.

A case in point is the situation involving Detroit Lions and Hall of Famer, Calvin Johnson, who spent his entire career with the organization. When Johnson retired after the 2015 season, he was forced to pay back more than $1 million to the team, creating a rift with the Lions.

Thankfully, Johnson and the Lions have made an effort to mend their relationship, with the former star even hosting a football camp at their practice facility.

This kind of story can challenge us to pursue reconciliation in our own lives when facing fractured relationships or bitterness toward those who have wronged us.

Not every situation will ultimately result in reconciliation, but as followers of Jesus, forgiveness on our end must always take place. This is only possible because we are in Christ, and we’ve experienced His forgiveness.

Colossians 3:12-13 explains, “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

Thankfully, Jesus has made a way for us to be reconciled to God through His life, death, and resurrection. Given that truth, as we follow Him, let’s be forgivers who seek reconciliation with others while also helping them to be reconciled with God.

Humility, patience, and determination are needed for this to happen, but God will get the glory and we will no longer be held back by our unforgiving hearts.

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful to be reconciled with You. Help me reconcile with those who have hurt me or I have hurt. I pray You’d empower me to be a forgiver who doesn’t hold onto grudges or bitterness. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.