Quick to Forgive
Pastor Gary Oser
Over the course of this year, I have been sharing some questions with you from a book written by Donald Whitney to help diagnose our spiritual health. The question this month is: “Are you quick to forgive?”
Forgiveness is a great theme of Scripture (the Bible). Because of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, we can experience God’s forgiveness when we turn to repentance to God alone for salvation.
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As Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west (an immeasurable distance), so far has He removed our transgressions form us” (NASB). First John 1:9 adds, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (NASB). It is clear that God graciously extends forgiveness to us that we don’t deserve.
If God has so generously and graciously extended forgiveness to us as Christians, does it not make sense that as His followers we also ought to generously and graciously extend forgiveness to others? In Mark 11:25 Jesus said,
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive your transgressions” (NASB).
Paul says in Colossians 3:13,
“…bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone: just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (NASB).
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The way God has forgiven us is the standard which He wants us to follow in forgiving others.
The real hurdle is our attitude regarding forgiveness. Do we do it because we have to then drag our feet as we do? Do we do it only when confronted and pressured to do so? Or do we initiate the process and do it willingly and gladly?
A man by the name of James Coulter well said, “The unforgiving spirit…is the number one killer of spiritual life.” You cannot be spiritually healthy and harbor unforgiveness in your heart. How are you doing when it comes to forgiveness? Do you quickly and generously extend it to others? If there anyone you haven’t forgiven? Spiritually healthy people are those who are quick to forgive.