Forgive--and Love

August 14

Each of us has endured some hurt—some indignity—at the hand of another. Perhaps several people have caused us to feel rejected and unlovely. Perhaps they have made us aware that in their estimation, we simply cannot ‘fit in’ and are unworthy of inclusion in their group.

Many of us carry such emotional scars from childhood and adolescence into adulthood and allow ourselves to still writhe under the pain of them. Nobody can tell us that we are suffering for naught or that we are not the sum total of what our high school acquaintances thought of us.

How do we overcome the deep-seated stigma that we impose upon ourselves because of what others leveled upon us when we were young and impressionable? What we must do involves a two step process. First, we must see ourselves as Christ sees us. He thinks we are worth the sacrifice of His own life to save us from our sin and assure our place with Him eternally. Surely, His estimation outweighs the opinion of any mere mortal!

Second, we must recognize the power of forgiveness in our lives. If we will simply forgive those who have harmed us—either knowingly or intentionally—at any point in our lives, we will release ourselves from bondage to the negativity they caused to us. Colossians 3:13, 14 says, “Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive. Above all, put on love, for it perfects all things.” When we forgive and love, we are perfected—no matter what the offending party does.