The Importance of Forgiving

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The Importance of Forgiving

John Hibbert

When Jesus was dying on the cross in the most extreme agony, He prayed for those who tormented Him. He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." I stand in awe of the One who prayed such a prayer, because He really did mean it! He truly wanted God to forgive these men, to pardon them, to blot this crime from their account. These were not religious words, spoken to impress. They came from a genuine heart, which sincerely desired the forgiveness of His persecutors. It makes me wonder how I would fare if I were put in such desperate circumstances. The challenge is more than being able to say the words; it is to mean them! True forgiveness is from the heart, not offered reluctantly, from a sense of religious duty, but from a deep desire that the one who wrongs us might be spared the consequences of their sin. Of course they don't deserve to be forgiven, but neither did I deserve the pardon He gave to me! Forgiveness has nothing to do with rights or deserts. It has to do with unconditional love, which seeks the benefit of the most unworthy soul. The Lord Jesus taught us to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." He went on to warn us that if we refuse to forgive others their crimes against us, we exclude ourselves from the forgiveness that we all need from Him.

So if you are harbouring some bitterness in your heart, resentment against an individual or group of individuals, you need to let it go. You are, in fact, feeding your own condemnation. Look at how much He suffered so that you might be forgiven and ask His cleansing and forgiveness. You will be amazed at how easy it will then be to forgive those who have wronged you.

The Importance of Forgiving