In review of Colossians 3:13 it says to, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (NLT).
The key to forgiving others is remembering how much God has forgiven me. Is it difficult for me to forgive someone who has wronged me a little, when God has forgiven me so much? Realizing God's infinite love and forgiveness can help me love and forgive others. Let God worry about the wrongs I've suffered. Don't quench my life in bitter feuding; live renewed in love and joy.
Lots of people think God carries grudges. They picture God up in heaven, waiting to zap them for anything they do wrong.
Isaiah 43:25 tells me what God is really like: “I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you” GNT). God wants to forgive, and he has done everything necessary to forgive my sins in Christ.
Even before the world was made, God was already planning in Christ to forgive my sins. He knows every wrong thing I’m going to do. None of it surprises him! All the guilt that’s in my life, God made a plan to offer me forgiveness for it even before I was born.
That’s why God can say this: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NIV). Condemnation is gone because of what Jesus Christ did for me, this means unconditional, complete, consistent, eternal, by-grace forgiveness in all of my life. What a relief! I don’t have to suffer or pay for my sins now or in eternity. It’s paid for by Jesus Christ. I am forgiven if I accept that gift of salvation from Jesus.
When I recognize that I’ve been forgiven, I am then enabled and strengthened to forgive others.
How do I do that? “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13 NLT).
If I take a good look at myself, and I’ll see ugliness, selfishness, and sin. But the important thing is how God sees me. I am his creation, a masterpiece designed to live for him and bless others.
When I take a good look through God’s eyes, I’ll see the forgiveness that only he can give. By accepting his forgiveness in my life, I’ll be able to offer it to others.
In summary, make allowances for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. The Lord forgave me, so I must forgive others. The key is remembering how much God has forgiven me. Realizing God's infinite love and forgiveness can help me love and forgive others. Let God worry about any wrongs done to me. God has already done everything that is necessary to forgive my sins in Christ. Condemnation is gone because of what Jesus Christ did for me. I am forgiven if I accept the gift of salvation from Jesus. When I recognize that I've been forgiven, then I'm enabled and strengthened to forgive others. No matter how I see myself, God sees me as his creation, designed to live for him and bless others. By accepting his forgiveness in my life, I'll be able to offer it to others.
I have been forgiven so much. There is no reason why I should not forgive anyone who offends me. Today’s study is a great reminder and perspective for me to keep in mind. Father I pray this morning that you help bring to mind any unforgiveness that is in my heart so that I can recognize it and deal with it. Help me to be more like your Son in how I think and what I do. I want to see myself as one designed by you and used to bless others. I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my activities, my leadership and my interaction with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, Amen.
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