FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER (part 2)

Wanda Davis, The Church Triumphant of Columbus

KEY VERSE ~ PSALM 86:5

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

FOCUS ~ Forgiveness in the Old Testament was different than in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, it was an eye for an eye. In the New Testament, Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven. Joseph is said to have been a type of Christ – nothing is said about him that was negative in character. This shows that if a child is taught what is right, they will continue with the principle even though it is not a common practice. Let this principle live in you so your children will carry it on.

To FORGIVE is to forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go), omit, send away, remit, and yield.

Moses is known as the friend of God, David is identified as a man after God’s own heart, and Joseph is remembered as the man who knew how to forgive. Hence, the story of Joseph is one of the earliest lessons in the Bible on forgiveness. Joseph’s “right” to be bitter would be acknowledged by all who heard his story. However, the forgiving life that God wants us to lead is not based on whether the guilty person deserves to be forgiven. Learning to forgive is such an important requirement in our service to God that without it, we are lost. (Matthew 6:14, 15)

Of course, people who repeatedly commit the same offenses against us are harder to forgive, but even then, the scripture is clear about our responsibility. Matthew 18:21 and 22 says, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, “Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?” Jesus answered him, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven.” (GW)

If we were able to follow Joseph’s life day by day, from the time his brothers sold him into slavery, while knowing his every thought, we would probably see many days of anger and bitterness toward his brothers hidden inside this man. Our mind is a battleground where memories of wrongs and hurts are stored, and our choice in thought processes when dealing with them determine whether we will lead a bitter life, or a life of peace. Through time, Joseph chose peace rather than vengeance. Though he did not have the scriptures to guide him, he chose to forgive and bless his brothers, rather than be bitter and retaliate. “And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” (Genesis 50:18-19)

Another wonderful example of forgiveness is also found in the Old Testament, in the person of Job. At a time when he needed comfort, his “friends” hurled accusations at him. They sat in a place of judgment over Job. In the end of Job’s trial, God rebuked Job’s friends and Job prayed for them. His prayer for his friends gave him deliverance from a bitter life.

“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10 KJV)

Whether the offense committed against us is small or large, forgiveness does not come naturally. It is against the nature of our “carnal man” to forgive. Nevertheless, as Christians, since we want the nature of God to rule our lives, we must learn to forgive. The longer we harbor a grudge, the more difficult it is to conquer.