Forgive: It's God's Way

"And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ"  -- Ephesians 4:32 / HCSB

To forgive others is difficult.  Being frail, fallible, imperfect human beings, we are quick to anger, quick to blame, slow to forgive, and even slower to forget.  Forgiveness, no matter how difficult, is God's way, and it must be our way, too.

God's commandments are not intended to be customized for the particular whims of particular believers.  God's word is not a menu from which each of us may select items a la carte, according to our own desires. Far from it. God's Holy Word is a book that must be taken in its entirety; all of God's commandments are to be taken seriously. And so it is worth forgiveness.  So, if you hold bitterness against even a single person, forgive.  Then, to the best of your abilities, forget. It's God's way for you to live.

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"Looking back over my life, all I can see is mercy and grace written in large letters everywhere. May God help me have the same kind of heart toward those who wound or offend me"  -- Jim Cymbala

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Lord, genuine forgiveness is difficult. Help us to forgive those who have injured us, and deliver us from the traps of anger and bitterness.  Forgiveness is Your way, Lord; let it be ours.