Amazing Grace

Christianity is rooted in forgiveness. God is so loving and good that He came to earth in the flesh to give us the gift of forgiveness. Just as the Lord freely forgives us, He requires us to extend this same grace to others. 

Grace comes from the Greek word “charis” derived the word charity. Charity involves “giving” meaning that forgiveness requires us to give a “grace gift” to our offender. This can be challenging because it is hard to forgive someone who has wounded us deeply.

Unforgiveness has many unsavory consequences. It is destructive for our walk with the Lord and relationships with His people. We believe that we are punishing the other person by withholding forgiveness, but we are harming ourselves.

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

Living in bitter unforgiveness breaks our fellowship with God and impacts our ability to serve Him and others. Research has shown that unresolved conflict and resentment can even impact our health causing emotional, mental, and physical issues.

As we forgive others and let go of hurts, we find deep healing and restoration in our soul.  Regardless of how the offender reacts, our forgiveness will free us from bitterness. 

Here are some truths about forgiveness:

1. Forgiveness is an act of obedience. We forgive others out of gratitude for the grace God extends to us. How can we expect Him to offer forgiveness to us when we won’t extend it to others?

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

2. Forgiveness is not about being deserving. Are we deserving of the grace that we receive from God?

3. Forgiveness is not pretending we were never hurt nor condoning the offense. Since someone has hurt us in some way, it is OK to recognize and feel the hurt. In most cases it is best that we forget the offense and move on. In other cases, we should forgive but keep a memory that protects us or our loved ones in the future. Trust may have to be rebuilt with some people and others might need to be avoided altogether.

4. Christ modeled forgiveness for us. If Christ is pre-eminent in our lives, we should follow His example of forgiveness.   

A great marriage is the union between two good forgivers. Ruth Bell Graham

 5. Good forgivers “see” the reality of their own continual sin and need for grace. When we have full recognition of our own sin, it makes us appreciate God’s grace that much more. We are dependent on His grace instead of our own prideful record. A heart that is grateful for the amazing grace we have received can far more easily “give grace” to others.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I’m found

Was blind but now I see.”

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6