Then his master summoned him and said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”
Matthew 18:32-33

Forgiveness is a hallmark of the Christian life. It begins with forgiveness; we are the forgiven ones. Our sins have been forgiven, and for Jesus’ sake God looks upon us as though we had never sinned.

Forgiveness goes on from there; it’s contagious. Knowing I’m forgiven enables me to forgive others what they’ve done to me, because no matter how serious their offense, it will never be greater than all that God has forgiven me.

Sometimes it’s hard to forgive. The pain of what was done to me may be so raw that I struggle to forgive, but that’s not the same as being unwilling to forgive.

Forgiveness begins in the heart. A heart that has been converted by trusting in and receiving God’s forgiveness is disposed to forgiveness. Even in our pain, we lean toward forgiveness, and the healing balm of God’s Holy Spirit works in our hearts. So He can say, Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Lord, help me to forgive from the heart, as You have forgiven me. The pain and damage I feel, I will leave in Your hands, but dispose my heart to forgiveness. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles