I’m 100% sure that at some point in your life, you have been mistreated or hurt really badly, and the thought of forgiving that person didn’t occur to you – or maybe it did, but you rejected it because they “don’t deserve it”.
Someone who struggles to forgive, has forgotten
what they have been forgiven of. – John Bevere
When Jesus was on the cross, He asked God to forgive those who had crucified Him.
Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34 GNB
Being human, it is easy to say “an eye for an eye”, but will that glorify God? No it won’t! Read Matthew 5:38-42.
This does not mean that you should let people walk over you, but always choose to forgive and treat hate with love, rudeness with kindness and darkness with light.
Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:18 GNB
Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 NIV
What people don’t realise that unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the person who you won’t forgive, will die.
By forgiving someone you will set a prisoner free – yourself.
In Mark 11:25 and Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus proclaims that God will only forgive you of your sin, if you forgive others of their sin.
Forgive, because He forgives you.