Mark 11:25
“When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”
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“…and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”
A college classmate once remarked to me, after I told him to forgive our other friend, “I am not God, so how can I forgive him?”
And this really got me thinking. Is that what he really believes? Or, is he just saying that because anger is still in his heart? Later on, I was able to confirm it. He had forgiven him.
He had forgiven him because anger and hatred was gone, and because the other person is sincere in asking for forgiveness.
Yes, we are not God. If someone did us wrong, hatred and anger would cloud our judgment and we would see that other person in a different light. We would think of him as an enemy not worthy of our forgiveness and friendship. And if left uncheck, it would go on forever.
But we are all called to a life of perfection in Him. We also make mistakes. We also commit sins against other people and against God. How can you ask for forgiveness, if you, yourself, cannot forgive others?
We don’t need to be God to forgive others. We only need to have God in our hearts to replace the hatred that we feel. When we reflect on how grievous our own sins have been, and how, despite all that, God still forgives us, we learn to forgive ourselves and others.
Learn to forgive, and later on, to forget. For true forgiveness comes straight from the heart – free from anger and hate.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, purify our hearts today. We trust that You have forgiven us today, and we forgive ourselves and those who sin against us. Amen +
The Lord takes delight in his people.
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