Forgive And Be FORGIVEN

When you read and speak of the word FORGIVE do you have true understanding of it? Have you researched it and gained TRUE knowledge of what it means to FORGIVE? Or, do you have surface level understanding and never truly gathered what it means to really and truly FORGIVE so you can be FORGIVEN.

1. To stop feeling anger toward (someone who has done something wrong): to stop blaming (someone)
2. To stop feeling anger about (something): to forgive someone for (something wrong)
3. To stop requiring payment of (money that is owed)

The word “forgive” comes from an old English word forgiefan, which is itself made up of two words: giefan, meaning “give” and for-, meaning “completely”. So the word forgiefan conveys the sense of GIVING COMPLETELY.
~ “The Origin and Meaning of Forgiveness.” Andrew Pinsent –. Web. 24 May 2016.

Before converting over and giving my life to the Lord I was already a person who forgave others for the wrong they have done to me.  Even some of the most unforgivable things I forgave.  I forgave because I always believed that if something was to happen to that person or myself I do not want things to be left unresolved.  I still believe this and feel this way BUT now it is a little more, well a lot more, added to it.

People always ask me how can you forgive this person for what they have done and then they proceed to say (or think to themselves) “if it was me, I couldn’t do it”.  Well let’s just say it was and continues to be hard but it takes a lot of humbling of self and a lot of PRAYER.  Me personally I do not like to hold grudges because that grudge carries a lot of weight and at this point in my life I definitely do not want the extra weight or stress so I choose to forgive.

However, as I continue to grow in my faith I am learning more and more it is definitely better to forgive and COMPLETELY forgive for my own souls’ sake.  In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus is teaching about prayer and fasting and he states: “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” (NLT).  That right there is enough for me being that I wish to be forgiven by my Father however I also wish to be obedient to Him.

What Jesus is saying (from my understanding) is to completely and wholeheartedly forgive those who wronged you because our Father completely forgives us for our wrong doing.  All of us were born with sin in our heart because of Adam but Jesus came to right Adam’s wrong and ONLY through the blood of Jesus are we forgiven.  Jesus was the ULTIMATE sacrifice so why do we as mankind feel that we do not have to forgive others when everyday God forgives one for their transgressions and sin.

Some may say, “Yes I forgave this person yet they continue to do the same thing, should I continue to just forgive them over and over again?” Me personally I try not to allow that person to do the same thing over and over again to me because I do not put them in the predicament where they can.  However, Jesus told Peter in Matthew 18:22 that he should “No, not forgive seven times…but seventy times seven”. Meaning stop counting how many times you should forgive but forgive as many times as they come to you with a true and repenting heart.

We as humans do not really know when a person is truly and utterly apologetic for their wrong doing against you BUT where’s the problem in giving them the benefit of doubt.  I know that in my circumstances with the person who did me completely wrong, though it was extremely hard, I forgave him.  I forgave him because:

1. I couldn’t carry that burden any longer (Psalm 55:22)
2. Who am I to not forgive when I have done so much wrong yet my Father has forgiven me over and over again (Luke 6:37)
3. The Bible says: “…Love your enemies!” (Matthew 5:44) and “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses” (Proverbs 10:12).

So I say to those who are reading this: humble yourself to forgive those who may have hurt you.  Forgive them completely not because you want to make it into heaven but because at the end of the day WE ARE ALL SINNERS and if you have given your life to the Lord, He has forgiven you.  He loves us and only want the best for his children.  We were created in HIS image so why not do as He would do, COMPLETELY FORGIVE.  Then Let Go and Let God! He can handle it but you have to TRUST Him.

~ Livingwithpurpose720