Since we’ve been on the topic of forgiveness, I’ve been thinking about Jesus’ command to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Um, did you notice that it was a command, not a suggestion?

How is that even possible?! It’s hard enough to forgive them, much less (much more?) to love them! But we’re commanded to do so. Wow, God! That’s too hard!

I believe it is too hard for us, that the only way for us to love such people is to ask God to love them through us, to give us His love for them. I have found that He is more than willing to answer that prayer.Continue Reading

Sometimes we need to forget in order to forgive. Unfortunately, when it comes to offenses, we often have very good memories.

Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, when asked by a friend if she remembered a cruel thing done to her, answered, “No; I distinctly remember forgetting that.”

As I was growing up, my parents were both alcoholics. My mom finally got sober and involved in AA before my first child was born. I rejoiced when this happened, but it took some time before the feelings of hurt and resentment were gone.

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Have you ever been hurt by a person so badly that, try as you might, you just couldn’t forgive? I mean totally forgive, so that the relationship is no longer broken.

A definition of forgiveness that I have found is: ceasing to feel resentment for wrongs and offenses; pardon involving restoration of broken relationships.

I have had hurts like that several times in my life, and God has had different lessons about forgiveness for me to learn each time.

The one that comes to mind now is one I struggled with for several years. I tried and tried to forgive this person, but I continued to feel resentment, and the relationship remained broken.Continue Reading

Recently I heard from a friend about an idea that some in the church propounded that they were not responsible to forgive people who have wronged them. I find this thinking very troubling.

God’s word is rich with commands to forgive, so this idea obviously is not based on scripture. Remember that I believe that the Bible is the inerrant, inspired word of God and the final authority for all truth and practice, meaning that we need to base what we think and how we act on the word of God.

What does God have to say about forgiveness?Continue Reading