“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you for your offenses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your offenses.”
If you see two kids arguing and try to break up the fight, you will often hear the age-old defense: “Well, he started it!” When we are called out in a disagreement, the first thing many of us do is defend our own side. We know our reasoning and can defend our side without even considering the path to reconciliation. When we live this way, forgiveness is not even a consideration. When we set our sights only on being right, we want to prove a point rather than find a path forward. We see the fault in others, but we don’t see where we might be wrong and need forgiveness.
Jesus taught that forgiveness needs to happen at every level. This is more than a quick apology but a deep heart work. We also need forgiveness from God for the wrong we have done. Forgiveness gives us the opportunity to have true reconciliation with God and heals our fractured relationships with one another. In any argument, forgiveness should be a priority for the children of God, though forgiveness will not look the same in every situation. In matters of abuse or unrepentant sin, extending forgiveness will look very different than a mutual disagreement. Whatever the circumstances, God calls us to consider the appropriate path of forgiveness just as He has forgiven us so much.
- When have you struggled to forgive? What was difficult about that situation?
- When have you found healing after forgiveness? Who do you need to forgive and pursue reconciliation with?
- Pray and ask God for forgiveness and to equip you to forgive others.
