During World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her family helped hide Jews from the Nazi’s until they were caught. They were shipped off to concentration camps where her father and sister died from the torture they endured. A few years after the war, Corrie was in Munich, Germany teaching people about how God forgives. After her message, she noticed a man moving toward her as everyone was exiting. It was a guard from the camp she was stationed at who had been evil and vile to the two sisters. He said he had become a Christian and that God had forgiven him of all the terrible things he did at that camp. He then asked her if she would forgive him too. She knew as a Christian she had to, but she struggled. She then asked Jesus to help her as she put out her hand to shake his. She felt a current go through her body and said, “I forgive you, brother! With all my heart!”
I can’t help but think of Joseph whose father had given him a coat of many colors in Genesis 37. His own brothers began to resent him to the pint they agreed to kill him. Instead they took his coat and threw him in a cistern. They sold him into slavery where he was taken to Egypt. For years he was a slave and later a prisoner. He could have resented his brothers for all the pain and heartache they caused him, but instead he chose to forgive. When they came seeking food, he fed them and cared for them. He understood that God was able to use their actions to place him in position to help many. His ability to forgive them and show them kindness in return for what they did to him is another great example of someone who was wronged but chose to forgive.
Colossians 3:13 says, ”Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others“ (NLT). This verse tells us that we are to forgive anyone who offends or hurts us. Remember forgiveness releases you from the prison their actions keeps you in. It doesn’t mean you have to reconcile with them either. It means you must let go of the hurt and the pain they have caused you, quit harboring malice towards them and be willing to treat them as if they didn’t harm you. Like Corrie Ten Boom recalled, we can’t be forgiven by God unless we forgive others. If you can’t do it in your strength, then ask God to help you forgive. You will not fully heal until you do. Don’t carry that weight anymore. Use this start to a new year to help you let go of the weight of unforgiveness.
Photo by Milan Popovic on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 