Blessed by Forgiveness – Blessed to Forgive

 One significant blessing that God extends to us is forgiveness, and yet the most difficult task we experience as human beings is forgiving others who have offended us. We often take seriously the attitude of Heinrich Heine, the sixteenth century German poet, who humorously noted, "You should forgive your enemies, but not before they've been punished or hanged."

A Japanese proverb noted, "Forgiving the unrepentant is like trying to paint a picture on the surface of water." A requirement for receiving forgiveness is letting go of pride and blame so you can be repentant before God and others.

Achieving this goal is possible only as you extend forgiveness to others. Matthew 6:15 warns, "If you refuse to forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins.” As difficult as it is to forgive, it’s the only way to achieve peace and receive God’s promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” 

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And forgive us our debts (sins) as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].

~Matthew 6:12 Amplified Bible 

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Empathy and Mercy: Pathway to Forgiveness

When feelings of empathy and mercy are interwoven into an offer of forgiveness, the chances for a positive reception are greatly enhanced. Very few people are incapable of empathy, but expressing it to those who have wronged us remains a difficult choice. Forgiving another person is an act of mercy, but it takes empathy for it to be put into action.

 

Empathy is an inborn human trait and serves as a bridge builder to closeness and intimacy. When empathy and mercy are expressed, they communicate a truth essential for relationships. These two, empathy and mercy, open the door so forgiveness can serve as a healing agent capable of saving a relationship.

Jesus said in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy." It's critically important to keep in mind that forgiveness follows in the pathway of empathy and mercy, which are expressions of love. Forgiving others is sometimes hard to follow through on, but the rewards for doing so can be life-changing.  

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The Lord Jehovah is kind and merciful, slow to get angry, full of love. He is good to everyone, and his compassion is intertwined with everything he does.

~Psalm 145:8-9 The Living Bible

None of you should think only of his own affairs, but consider other people’s interests also. Let your attitude of life be that of Christ Jesus himself.

~Philippians 2:4-5 Phillips: The New Testament in Modern English

To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another and be kind and humble with one another.

~1 Peter 3:8 Good News Bible

Build a Bridge to Tolerance

Intolerance is a human trait that affects everyone at some level and can be so complex as to make a minor noise appear like a major disturbance. Recently, I was having lunch with friends when the noise level made it impossible to communicate. We can develop intolerance for a person or for situations that don’t meet our needs.

The French philosopher Voltaire wrote in 1764, "Tolerance is the prerogative of humanity. We are all steeped in weaknesses so let us forgive one another's follies. This is the first law of nature." Forgiveness is the willingness to accept another person’s differences with compassion and love. Forgiveness builds a bridge to tolerance.

The apostle Paul cried out to God, "O wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death?" He positioned himself before God this way while actively carrying out the Lord’s command to evangelize the world. Paul’s deliverance, restoration and forgiveness came through faith in Jesus Christ.  

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It’s wise to be patient and show what you are like by forgiving others.

~Proverbs 19:11 Contemporary English Version

You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.

~Colossians 3:12-14 Good News Bible