Reflection: Forgiveness

Offering forgiveness does not come naturally to us. Yet Colossians tells us that following Jesus means practicing forgiveness. It is God’s forgiveness of us that allows us to trust him to bring about perfect justice. This enables us to let go of our own need to set things right and leave this in God’s hands. Secondly, it is when we recognise how deeply God loved and valued us while we were still his enemies, that we are able to have the same attitude towards others (1 John 4:10-11). Out of humility and a recognition of our own sins, we can be prepared to bear with each other’s faults even before they ask for forgiveness.

Forgiving someone does not mean excusing what they did or minimising our own hurt. On the contrary, the very act of forgiving someone acknowledges that they have done something which requires forgiveness. Forgiveness is about seeing the person behind the offense and seeking to love them in wisdom and with compassion.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for your incredible forgiveness. Without it I would be so lost. Help me to extend the same compassion towards others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.