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Five Ways Forgiveness Can Help

By Johney Maron

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 11Feb2010 Word count: 597 Viewed: 421 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

When I walked into Starbucks to meet my friend Terry, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Okay, so I knew what kind of coffee I was going to order, but I wasn't sure why Terry wanted to meet me. Since our big argument four months ago, we had hardly exchanged a few words, even though we passed each other in church with a nervous nod every so often. Before even taking the first sip of his latte, Terry stammered kind of awkwardly, John, I-..I need to ask your forgiveness. Over the next half hour we talked, and as we talked the awkwardness vanished. Our relationship was restored. We prayed together. We cried together. And we didn't even care that our coffee was getting cold.

Forgiveness is no small thing. In fact, the opposite of forgiveness, harbored bitterness, can be an extremely damaging thing. My friendship with Terry was just one relationship that forgiveness saved, but there are countless relationships fathers and sons, employers and bosses, teachers and students, ex-boyfriends and girlfriends, even husbands and wives where forgiveness can help.

Here are five ways in which forgiveness can help in your life.

It helps your relationship with God

Forgiveness is all about God. God wants us to forgive others so we can have a relationship with him. In fact, Jesus' words are almost shocking in their bluntness: If you don't forgive other people, God won't forgive you. It's that simple. That means it's impossible to have a genuine relationship with God if you refuse to forgive others. (See Matthew 6:14-15; 18:35; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 6:37.)

It reminds you of how God forgave you.

Forgiveness gives us a valuable lesson in the act of Ultimate Forgiveness - Jesus' death in our place. Sin requires punishment. And every one of us has sinned. But God sent Jesus - our forgiveness. (See Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:10; Luke 6:47; John 1:9; Ephesians 1:7.)

It restores your relationships with others.

Think of the most damaged, irreparable relationship you have. Why did it become that way? Ultimately, it was sin. But it may also have to do with failure to forgive. Forgiveness is a powerful thing. It has the power to totally transform a relationship. Realize that you may have the power to totally change a ruined relationship through the simple act of forgiveness. (See Mark 11:25; Luke 17:3-4.)

It brings confidence for the future.

Relationships are tough things. Sometimes, you don't always know which direction they're going to go. Can you trust him? Should you start a friendship with her? Realizing the power of forgiveness gives you confidence to forge future relationships. Forgiveness is a tool that can save the ugliest marriage, reconcile the most hateful enemies, and bond the most alienated friends. And if you don't think so, take a look at what you were before salvation (Ephesians 2:1-3) and what you've become through God's forgiveness (Ephesians 2:4-7).

It brings the peace of reconciled relationships.

Do you know what it's like to put your head on your pillow at night, confident that you are right with God and with others? It's an unbeatable feeling. It's a feeling you will never experience if you are refusing to forgive anyone. Real forgiveness means real reconciliation. And reconciliation brings an unbelievable level of peace.

But it's so hard! I know. Forgiveness is like taking a big bite of humble pie. But realize that God is the one who gives you grace to grant forgiveness. How hard was it for Jesus to die on the cross? The peace, the joy, and the freedom that forgiveness brings will make it all worth it.

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