Are you familiar with the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer in which the Lord Jesus urged us to ask God for forgiveness as well as the strength to forgive those who sin against us? If so, do you know what Jesus said right after that prayer? “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14,15).
You have to forgive. Have to. It’s a necessity for every true child of God. While you may struggle to do it and fall short every other time you try, no Christian can live in (a.k.a. continue in, a.k.a. persist in, a.k.a. not repent of) bitterness, vengeance, and a lack of forgiveness. Christians care about Christ’s teaching. The Holy Spirit within us moves our hearts to follow Jesus, even when the commands of Jesus are far from convenient.
If you have refused to forgive someone, repent of disobeying the clear command of God. If you are trying to forgive but failing as often as you try, thank God that he has mercy on his sincere children who are weak. If you have made and continue to make the choice to forgive, praise God for helping you treat others as Jesus first treated you—with grace.
Child of God, you have to forgive. And because of Jesus’ forgiveness, I know you want to.
