Date: Saturday, 16th December, 2023
Text: Hebrews 12:14
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
God is not asking you to forgive because the offender deserves it. Some people don’t even care that they have hurt you, but it is against the nature of God to hold anyone in your heart. The Spirit of God says, “Follow peace with all men”- Hebrews 12:14.
One sign that a wound is healed is that it does not pain you anymore though the scar may still be there. The scar makes you remember the incident but not the pain. “Forgive” does not necessarily mean “forget”, except for someone that suffers from memory loss.
When a woman is in labour, she feels the pains and pangs of childbirth but when the baby is born, the joy makes her “forget” the pain. That ‘forget’ there means the pain is gone, but the memory of the delivery remains fresh for decades.
Therefore, how to know you have truly forgiven someone is how you feel when you see or hear about the person. If you still feel resentment, bitterness, anger, hatred or other ill-feelings, it means the hurt and pain are still fresh; you have not healed and you have not forgiven.
Remember that while we are yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly – Romans 5:6-8. Are you finding it hard to forgive someone? Ask for the grace. Remember also that God forgave you so that you can extend forgiveness to others. It may take a while to build trust in that fellow like before; but let go of the hurt and be free.
Prayer Nugget: Holy Spirit fill my heart with love that overpowers offenses and keeps no record of wrongs in Jesus name.