Someone has said, "Forgiveness is not a case of 'holy amnesia' that wipes out the past. Instead, it is the experience of healing that drains the poison from the wound."
Some of life's hurt are so deep and painful to forgive the people who cause them seems impossible. Yet Jesus says that we can't experience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit.
One factor that motivates us to forgive is that as a Christian we are commanded to, as the child of a Father who forgives. Jesus said' " "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." [Mark 11:25]
Philip Yancey identify three pragmatic reasons why we should forgive :-
First, forgiveness halts the cycle of blame and pain, breaking the chain of ungrace. Without it we remain bound to the people we can't forgive, held in their vise grip.
Second, forgiveness loosens the stranglehold of guilt in the perpetrator. It allows the possibility of transformation in the guilty party, even if a just punishment is still required.
Third, forgiveness creates a remarkable linkage, placing the forgiver on the same side as the party who did the wrong.
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
He who cannot forgive others burns the bridge over which he himself must pass - Herbert
Some of life's hurt are so deep and painful to forgive the people who cause them seems impossible. Yet Jesus says that we can't experience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit.
One factor that motivates us to forgive is that as a Christian we are commanded to, as the child of a Father who forgives. Jesus said' " "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." [Mark 11:25]
Philip Yancey identify three pragmatic reasons why we should forgive :-
First, forgiveness halts the cycle of blame and pain, breaking the chain of ungrace. Without it we remain bound to the people we can't forgive, held in their vise grip.
Second, forgiveness loosens the stranglehold of guilt in the perpetrator. It allows the possibility of transformation in the guilty party, even if a just punishment is still required.
Third, forgiveness creates a remarkable linkage, placing the forgiver on the same side as the party who did the wrong.
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
He who cannot forgive others burns the bridge over which he himself must pass - Herbert
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