Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 4:32-5:2 (ESV)

 

Learn to go beyond forgiveness to freedom.

When we forgive, we let go of the debt that we think the other person owed us and we recognise that we are the one has been set free.

The Apostle Paul encourages us to forgive others in the same way that God forgives us. It will make us spiritually stronger and healthier. Just as God forgave us for our sins, so too should we forgive others for their sins. When we reach out and forgive others, we stopped accusing or blaming them of what they have done to us. In doing so, we are not honouring our heavenly Father, but we are also becoming more like Him.

When we grasp the beauty of the gospel, we will understand something amazing about God’s love. We will start to see the importance of loving others who least deserve it. Too often, our preoccupation with the hurt or the wrong done distracts us from believing and resting in Jesus. Our angst and anger can impede God’s ability to do what He wants in us.

We can either continue to rehearse our pain or we can choose to let it go and embrace a future of new possibilities with God. Instead of focusing on “what they did to me”, we should ask, “How can I grow (beyond myself) in this unhappy episode?

The greatest gift you can bestow upon yourself is growth. Growth involves obedience. Obedience determines our attitude toward God and our way of living as His children. It is the love from God and for God that makes our obedience joyous and fruitful.

Our wounds can be used to serve God's will and purpose. That is why prayer is so important. God can transform our deepest pain into our deepest healing. If we don't pray, we will exhaust ourselves trying to do everything that only God can. Follow Paul's prescription. Live a life full of love. Choose not to judge. Choose not to hate. Choose not to retaliate. Choose to forgive. Choose to reconcile. In doing so, you set yourself free.