The Life of Forgiveness

Todd Bailey

Luke 23:33,34a - "And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors are on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

1 Peter 2:21 - "For even hereunto were ye called: Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps."

In the scriptures above, you can see that Jesus lived a life of forgiveness. His example is one that you and I are to follow.  In the area of forgiveness, as a believer, you have three entities the devil will try to get you over into unforgiveness: 
(1) God
(2) Others
(3) Yourself

God
Anyone who knows God - knows God is love and love is of God (1 John 4:7-8). 
John 3:16 - God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so we would not perish but have everlasting life.
Next time, when lightening, a flood, etc. destroys or kills remember it's not an "Act of God", it's an "Act of the Devil" (John 10:10)! Therefore, don't blame God because you serve a good God.

Others
In Matthew 18, there is a parable that speaks about a servant that owed a King a debt of approximately ten million dollars! This servant came before the King and begged for mercy and the King forgave him of this enormous debt. Later, this servant went and found a fellow-servant who owed him about twenty dollars, he strangled him and threw him into prison until the debt was paid. The King soon heard of this and threw the other servant into prison likewise (vs. 23-25).

As a believer, you have been forgiven a ten million dollar debt of sin that Jesus gave His life to pay. When someone offends you, forgive him. It really only amounts to about twenty dollars compared to what you were forgiven

Ephesians 4:32 - "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Yourself
You may not have a problem holding unforgiveness against God or others, but you can't seem to forgive yourself. Remember, as a believer, "There is therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1). What you may have done is in the past (Philippians 3:13-14). You may not be able to change your past, but you can change your future - TODAY.

If you have asked God to forgive you then He has done it! Learn to forgive yourself and "be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).

I would like to encourage you today to allow forgiveness to become a way of life with you towards: God, others and yourself.