Oct 23 2009
Why Should I forgive Others?
It’s a question that I’ve asked, and heard people asked about. Being Christian, forgiveness is the hardest concept I have to wrestle with.
I grew up as a skinny nerd, not a strong kid. I get bullied – a lot. I grew up dealing with the put-downs, the snow-jobs, the resentment, etc. One toxic byproduct of this was my propensity to hold a grudge and not being able to forgive.
Now that Jesus is in my life, this attitude is changing.
In Colossians 3:13, it says I have to forgive others just as as God has forgiven me. It can’t be any simpler than that.
When I think about, having resentment doesn’t do me any good. Why should I be the one in pain and suffering, sometimes in years, thinking about old wounds? I have to go on. Resentment is unreasonable (Job 5:2), unhelpful, and unhealthy (Job 21:23-25). I need to move on.
Furthermore, I need forgiveness for my future mistakes. I’m not a perfect person. I will make mistakes. I offer forgiveness because I need to be forgiven, for now and the future. It’s in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:12).
It is good to be forgiven. It is better to forgive.
