Want to listen to this post instead of reading? Play the audio recording below.
1 John 2:3-6 (NKJV)
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
When we think of walking as Jesus walked, as in 1 John 2:6, there may be a tendency to think only about the outward expressions. Things like us going out and feeding the poor. But what about the inward expressions that show we are followers of Jesus Christ. Like being forgiving.
The Scripture is clear that we are to forgive. For example:
Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) states: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 (NKJV) states: bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
When we forgive, we release ourselves of the feelings of hurt or perhaps anger resulting from the wrong done to us. Is it easy to forgive? Not always. But forgiving others is something we must do.
God is forgiving.
Take for example God’s actions towards Job’s three friends who had spoken wrongly against God. God had every right to deal with them as their actions deserved. Instead, God’s response to Eliphaz the Temanite in Job 42:7-8 (NKJV) states in part:
“My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
Remember that Job had also been hurt by his three friends. But still, Job prayed for them. The result of Job’s heart posture towards his friends and his obedience to God is seen in Job 42:10. The verse says: And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before (NKJV).
Let us not allow unforgiveness to hold us captive. Let us do what God’s Word commands us to do. Let us forgive others just as Christ has forgiven us.
Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV) states: Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
