An Elder Speaks

A Forgiving Heart
By Jack Smith
3/5/06

We all need to posses and maintain a forgiving hear if we want to have a righteous relationship with God.

Jesus spoke these very words in Matthew 6:14, 15) “For if we forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

There are three kindred spirits of the human heart-giving, forgiving and thanksgiving. And, usually where you find one, you will find the others.

So, what is forgiveness? Forgiveness; just ignoring those who offend us. Yes, this is fine if we are ignoring the wrong because the offender did not have a chance; but, if we ignore it on the basis of contempt for the offender, that is a refusal to go tit for tat, or tooth for tooth. One might refrain from such but still harbor bitterness and ill will. Forgiveness is not ignoring the sin. God does not overlook sin; nor, should man.

Jesus says rebuke, not ignore (Luke 17: 3). Forgiveness is not putting the offender on probation, while we discuss how in excusable his behavior was, and then promising to forget it providing no other offense is forthcoming.

We can tell what forgiveness is by observing what God does when He forgives. (a) He removes the notation from His record, (Acts 3:19). (b) He forgets, putting it out of His memory, (Heb. 8:12). And He treats us just like He did before we sinned, receiving us back wholeheartedly. (Luke 15: 20-24).

Let us maintain a forgiving heart.

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