I am a very observant person, and usually take life’s examples to learn more about God and His Word. He recently gave me an example of the importance of forgiveness. I got a call from my mother to let me know of a cousin that passed away. She was very close to the family, and growing up I called her Aunt rather than cousin. My mom was telling me of her last days in the hospital, and how everyone tried to contact her brother to let him know what was happening.
To make a long story short, he ignored it along with other members of the family who refused to come and see her in the hospital. Now she has passed, and they are not sure if her brother will attend the funeral. Apparently, there was a spat between them and a grudge caused them to be distanced. In my mom’s words, “She died never forgiving her brother or making amends for whatever happened.”
Matthew 6:15 “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. “
Word Wealth: Forgive for-give /for’giv/
1. to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
2. to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
3. to grant pardon to (a person).
4. to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one’s enemies.
5. to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.
verb (used without object)
6. to pardon an offense or an offender. [Origin: bef. 900; for- + give; r. ME foryiven, OE forgiefan]
This is a great reminder for us to look at ourselves. Is there someone who you have not truly forgiven? Maybe someone who scarred you long ago, but deep down inside you have a buried grudge that was never dealt with? When we do wrong, and we go to God for forgiveness, we must understand that He is also examining whether we have forgiven our brethren. My cousin carried this to her grave. But we are still alive with a chance to make things right. Sometimes, it’s not always about waiting to hear the person apologize. We can show the character of God by forgiving a person regardless. Think about when we did God wrong, yet He still saw fit to bless us? What if God held a grudge against us even after we said, “Lord please forgive me” with a contrite heart? What if God never forgave us? What if He never reconciled with us? What if He held a grudge with us?
