To Forgive or to Blame
By Charles Stanley
Read | Colossians 3:12-17
"It's
not my fault" is a prevalent attitude in our culture. To avoid
responsibility for their own actions, people blame others: "I wouldn't
yell at my kids so much if my own mother had loved me more" or "I
wouldn't speak unkindly about my boss if he showed me some respect."
Resentment wells up until the victim is blind to everything except how
his life is impacted by someone else's hurtful deeds. Then casting blame
is easy. But God has a challenge for believers: Forgive those who wound
you.
The
Lord’s Prayer mentions several of God’s duties but lists only one for
believers: to forgive debtors (Matt. 6:12). The metaphor of debt
describes sin well. A wronged person often feels that the responsible
party owes something, such as an apology or compensation. But by showing
mercy to one who has sinned, you stamp his or her obligation to you
“paid in full.” Reparations and retribution are no longer required.
Sometimes
our wounds are so deep that forgiveness does not come easily. Remember
that Jesus bears the scars of others’ sins, too, and His Holy Spirit
enables believers to carry out this difficult task. While your debtor
may have done nothing to deserve grace, choose to give it anyway, just
as Jesus did for you.
When
God forgives, He remembers wrongs no more (Jer. 31:34). This doesn’t
mean that transgressions magically ceases to have happened. Instead, the
Lord refuses to use past wrongs as a reason to punish His people. He
set the pattern of debt cancellation, and we are to follow His example
(Matt 6:15).
Tweet
Topic Options
Post Options
Thanks(1)
