Are You ready to forgive?

READ PSALM 86

Psalm 86:5-7(ESV)

⁵ For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.⁶ Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.⁷ In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

Forgiveness is a wonderful blessing to receive, but it is often difficult to extend. Do you wrestle in your heart with unforgiveness? Are you still holding onto offenses? Have you made amends with someone but deep in the recesses of your heart you still hold onto resentment toward them?

My friend, it's time to let it go once and for all.

Psalm 86 is a quick read that holds deep healing truth. Just look at our verses for today. The Lord is good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon Him. He listens to the plea for grace. When we call upon Him in our time of trouble He answers us!

Absorb those words into your soul. Do you deserve the Lord's forgiveness? Do you have a "right" to His mercy? Absolutely not!

Isaiah 64:6 (ESV)

⁶ We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Another translation says, "We are all like filthy rags before the Lord."And yet...AND YET, 1 John 1:9 gives us this wonderful assurance.

1 John 1:9(ESV)

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God is so good and merciful. What is even greater is that the Bible tells us that when God forgives our sins He remembers them no more. (Jeremiah 31:34) We're also told that God is love and love keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Think back to Jesus on the Cross and how he looked down upon those who mocked Him and jeered at Him. He was able to say, "Forgive them Father, they know not what they do."

It is so easy to read those words and think about "those people" who mocked and jeered our Savior. I would never be like them!

But the truth is, I'm WORSE than them. Jesus forgave them even when they didn't know what they were doing, but I KNOW Jesus and I KNOW what I'm doing. I KNOW better, and I still knowingly sin. Don't you?

Yes...you do!

Even on our best days our sin leaves us holding the hammer that drove the nails into His hands and feet.

And in spite of it all, Jesus forgives us when we lay our sin at His feet. He forgives...He forgets. You don't deserve it and it's not your right. It's all through His grace and mercy.

So my friend, now that you know how much you have been forgiven are you ready to truly forgive? Are you ready to offer the same mercy and grace that has been extended to you? I'm not telling you to put yourself in harms way, or re-enter a situation that will cause damage, but I am encouraging you to stop carrying unforgiveness because it's just a weight around your neck. Jesus set you free, and unforgiveness is bondage. It only enslaves you more!

Take a quick look at the picture for this devotional. That's what forgiveness looks like. It's open-armed freedom at the foot of the Cross, and it's a forgiveness that goes both ways. You're forgiven and you forgive others.

You will never be perfect at forgiving and forgetting the wrongs done against you (whether a person knows what they are doing or not), but instead of dwelling on the wrongs and letting them "own" you, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Meditate on His forgiveness and the grace and mercy He has given to you. It will drive you toward a heart of forgiveness for others.

Yes, Psalm 86:5 is correct, "For you, Lord, are good and forgiving!" And because You are, so will I.

Alright my friend, it's time. Are you ready to forgive?

Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of Crosswalk Church in Brentwood, TN. If you would like to support this website and make it possible for this page to stay active and these devotions to reach a wider audience, CLICK HERE

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