July 14

What happens when we hold a grudge against someone? What does remembering someone’s sin against us do to our relationship with that person? Anger towards someone because of what they have done to us, can literally destroy us. Bitterness can not only ruin us mentally, psychologically, and spiritually, but also physically. Those who do not believe in the Lord or trust in Him can be corrupted by their bitterness (Hebrews 12:15).
Forgiveness can restore a relationship as sweetly as a rain can wash a dense humidity right out of the air. God has given us a very clear example when it comes to dealing with sin. “If you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you” (Psalm 130:3&4). We have more sins God could count against us than any of us even knows. God is so holy and pure that if we tried to approach Him with even one sin still in our account, it would disqualify us from relating to Him. Consequently, when God forgives our sin, He removes it from our account. God will “not constantly accuse us.....He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does He deal with us as we deserve......He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:9-12). “If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth” (I John 1:8). We have the assurance that if “we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong” (I John 1:9). Note, the author did not say that God would forgive us from some of our wrongs or even most of our wrongs, but every wrong. Now, if the all-knowing God is willing to forgive us from every wrong for the sake of our relationship with Him, how do you suppose God expects us to act toward those who have offended us? In the same way, of course. “Forgive one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are His dear children” (Ephesians 4:32-5:1). Those who are able to forgive others even as God has forgiven us, bring a refresh-ment to our world that can only come from God.