Posts Tagged: relationships

“What Forgiveness Can Do”

On June 28, 2020 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“Forgiveness can save a relationship. God’s forgiveness can save the world.” (My wife)

Forgiveness is essential for any relationship. People say and do hurtful things. If you’re people, this applies to you. Me too. The closer the relationship, the higher the number of hurts. More importantly, the hurts go much deeper when we are in a close relationship. Without forgiveness, no relationship can last for more than a few years. (I originally wrote “a few days,” but decided that was too pessimistic.)

I believe that God wants a relationship with the entire world. Therefore—at least with humans—God had to forgive, if God was to have a relationship with humankind. Or, at least, God chose to forgive.

This morning, as I was doing my morning run, I suddenly found myself able to forgive someone who had harmed me in the past. It was a wonderful moment. I was able to run a lot lighter and faster after that.

Ironically, though not surprisingly, my pastor preached on forgiveness this morning. It was an excellent sermon with many wonderful insights. I especially appreciated his reminder that to forgive someone else is to give yourself the gift of freedom. Yes!

Too often, I focus on the wrongs that others have done to me. At other times, I grovel in the guilt of the times that I have hurt others. Neither approach honors the God who is a God of forgiveness.

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