When we forgive it gives us freedom to really be ourselves, to live our lives truthfully , with peace and unreserved love. JPJ
In practical life it is very hard to forgive persons who have done us wrong. I sometimes find it hard to forgive and let go because I am human and therefore it presents a challenge.
I am not perfect, we are not perfect; God is the only perfection among us. I think it would be good if we are able to acknowledge that we are nothing like God and he understands our weakness more than we do. So he knows that forgiveness is hard for us.
Jesus’ life on earth is the God given example that we need to follow in order to learn how to forgive. He assumed the role of a mortal man. He took on all of our sins and made forgiveness available to all of us. He did not have to do it but because he is LOVE he did it and he set us free. He had to be the example for all of us to follow, to show us that forgiveness is not easy but it is necessary. Necessary to set us free first and foremost and then to set the other person free.
When we apply the human side of us to a bad situation , it is very difficult to see beyond the hurt and the anger within us. Forgiveness is not easy but in order for us to live a christian life there are certain hard things that we will have to do. Things that go against everything we want for ourselves.
Forgiveness is necessary to living the life that God intended for us, we have to decide to let go of certain things and certain people; to free ourselves and not open ourselves to darkness. Forgiveness frees us from anger, hurt and negative feelings that the devil wants us to harbor within us. These things make it hard to live the christian life and so I encourage each and everyone to intentionally choose to forgive because we want to be like Jesus and live in the light.
Jesus’ example to all of us is to forgive willingly and with love, it makes it easier. I think about the soldiers that stood under the cross, jeering and mocking Jesus. To understand how to forgive we have to understand the depth of Jesus’ love for all of us at that very moment, when he said father forgive them for they know not what they do.
All it takes is to remember Jesus in that moment and how he willingly forgave and freed us all, let him be the example.
