One of the things I learned years ago is that forgiveness takes one person and reconciliation takes two people. Also forgiveness is required by God, but reconciliation is not. What forgiveness does is it sets you free from a mental prison of bitterness, anger and resentment. It also opens us up to God’s forgiveness. It’s not always easy to do, but God asks us to forgive others because He’s forgiven us. I can tell, you that it is freeing to forgive, even when they didn’t ask for it. You don’t have to wait on them to come ask for it or even go to them to tell them to offer it. Forgiveness is between you and God with you trusting Him to handle it instead of you. Don’t let another day go by being consumed by what someone else has done to you. Let forgiveness set you free.
Here’s some Bible verses on forgiving others:
1. Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others].
Mark 11:25 AMP
2. Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
Ephesians 4:31-32 GNT
3. And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended or wronged us]. And lead us not into temptation [but rescue us from evil].’
Luke 11:4 AMP
4. Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them.
Colossians 3:13 TPT
5. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15 NLT
Photo by sayan Nath on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 