WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO FORGIVE?

Read: PHILEMON: 8-22

Meditation verse:

“But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account” (Philemon 1:18)

To forgive is to pardon or cease to feel resentment against a person. True forgiveness entails acquitting the offender and treating him or her as we used to treat them before or even better. Paul the Apostle wrote a personal letter, during his first imprisonment in Rome to Philemon, a member of the Colossian church, pleading with him to forgive his slave, Onesimus who had stolen from him and absconded. Paul asked Philemon to accept him back as a brother in the faith, no longer as a slave.

Forgiveness is an important Christian virtue because it is the key to your relationship with God. Mathew 6:14 states “for if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”. God forgave you as a first step to restoring the broken relationship caused by the fall of Adam. His expectation is that you will do the same to others.

Why then do we sometimes find it difficult to forgive others?

• Ego: You feel your ego has been trampled upon by the offender and you desire to get even to redeem it.
• Self-righteousness: Trusting in your own righteousness, you feel justified in your anger. The faithful older brother was angry towards his father for forgiving the prodigal son (Luke 15:25-30).
• Lack of love: When there is no love in your heart for the offender. The bible says love convers a multitude of sin and keeps no record of wrong.
• Keeping records of wrong: You have forgiven the offender before and are reluctant to forgive a second time.
• The result of a vow: You have vowed inwards not to forgive the offender.

The key to forgiving others continuously is to constantly remember how much you have been forgiven by God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Oke Chinye.
Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart?

He says in Mathew 11:28, “come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He longs to give you rest."

Would you like to do so now? Here’s a prayer you can say:
Dear Jesus, I believe that You died to save me from all my sins. Today, I invite you into my heart and I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive all my sins and help me to live my life for You.

If you prayed this prayer, send me an email at rockteachingministry@gmail.com

I would love to pray with you personally and send you a copy of my book; ‘Living the Life’ to encourage you as you begin your new life in Christ.