Forgiveness

Given our human nature, we are bound to offend/ be offended, hurt/ be hurt by our friends, family, colleagues at work and other social places. When this occurs we end up being angry and frustrated and makes difficult how we relate to each other. The 'bad blood' between us causes enmity, lack of cooperation, fighting and retaliation creating a vicious cycle. So where does it all end? It ends with forgiveness. In Ephesians 4:32, 'Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.', we encouraged to adopt this attribute of God that was exemplified through Christ´s ministry on earth. When on earth He would forgive the sinners of their sins. He also died so that our sins would be forgiven.

Bearing a grudge is a heavy burden on the one bearing it. You spend each day fixated on thinking about the past transgressions poisoning your hurt with hate and vengeful thoughts. You need healing of the soul and the relationship and the scriptures shows how to go about the whole process of forgiveness where the transgressor confesses and asks for forgiveness in James 5:16, 'Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.'

And the one wronged is required to forgive and if he does not there are dire consequences for in the Lord´s prayer we ask for forgiveness from God for our wrongs as we forgive those who wrong us showing how God expects a forgiving nature from us. This is written in the scriptures in Mathew 6:14-15, 'For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.' Therefore grudge bearing is a sin in itself. We ought to bring healing into our lives by practicing forgiveness.