Forgiveness Is Freedom
Time and time again, we are exhorted by Scripture to forgive one another. The Bible sets a very clear standard for the kind of forgiveness Christians are to offer:
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
(Ephesians 4:32)
I am called to forgive as completely as I have been forgiven. This kind of forgiveness truly sets a captive free—and what’s so amazing is that, more often than not, the captive is me.
There are many forms of sin that can bind and imprison us. Over my forty-nine years of pastoral ministry, I have witnessed the power of unforgiveness and the devastation it brings—not only to the one who refuses to forgive, but also to the concentric circles of relationships surrounding them. Unforgiveness even has the power to infect generations.
“Forgive each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
I have a pen-and-ink drawing in my office of Christ on His knees, washing Peter’s feet. For me, it is a constant reminder of what servant leadership looks like. But on another level, it continually prompts me to ask myself, “Is there anyone in my life before whom I would be unwilling to posture myself in such a way?”
I often ask myself: Am I harboring any ill will or unforgiveness toward another today? Is there anyone in my life at this moment to whom I would not be willing to go—with basin and towel in hand—and wash their feet?
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to never let the sun set on our anger, for doing so gives great opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:26–27).
Is forgiveness easy? No, it is not. But Scripture is clear that harboring ill will or being unwilling to forgive on this horizontal plane greatly compromises our fellowship on the vertical plane—our fellowship with the Lord. In fact, Scripture implies that when we harbor unforgiveness, God’s ears are stopped up from hearing our prayers. Personally, that’s too high a price to pay for the fleeting privilege of harboring ill will against another.
We are commanded to forgive one another regardless of our feelings. Over the years, I’ve found that if I will be obedient in this regard—extending forgiveness when it’s the last thing I want to do—the feelings of forgiveness usually follow closely on the heels of my obedience.
Has anyone come to mind as you’ve read these words? Is there someone you need to forgive, just as God in Christ has forgiven you? If so, don’t let it spoil another day. Before the sun sets, set a captive free.