A very humble couple, known for their good and kind hearts, lost their only son. He was murdered. Weeks later the murderer was caught and this grieving couple was faced with a (what to many might seem like an easy) decision to make;
- They could send the guilty murderer to prison. Which is the right thing to do by law
- They could kill him, vengeance. Could take them to prison but at least their son was avenged. Or!
- They could forgive him, love him, and give him their sons place in their hearts
Many of us wouldn’t even consider the third one. He murdered their only son. But wasn’t that what we did?
We persecuted and crucified Jesus, He died for our sins. He didn’t commit the crime! we did!
Yet what did God do, He loved us, He gave us the title as His sons and daughters. HE FORGAVE US.
Forgiveness can be a gift to yourself or to others, it may be something you receive, but it can also be a quality that describes a relationship where one must be capable of self-forgiveness in order to forgive others.
As humans we need to understand that forgiveness is not only for the offender, it is for the offended as well. It brings peace of mind, it brings freedom, because resentment is an emotional prison that only brings sorrow.
Mark 11:25 says ‘‘And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” And in
Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs old quarrels, but love overlooks insults.”
We are called to forgive one another in all situations, as Christ forgave us our sins and as He showed love. We should always extend a hand of forgiveness to one another. FOR FORGIVENESS IS THE GREATEST PUNISHMENT, MORE THAN REVENGE.
