07/01/2024
MANNER FEAST
Apostle Peter Jonah
FORGIVENESS
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is the ability to pardon or show mercy to someone despite the offences or the wrong. All of us have sinned against God yet God forgives us despite the gravity of our sin.
Psalm 85:2 NIV
You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.
This above scripture made us to understand the God himself hold non of our wrong against us. No matter what we did against him, he let go of everything and cover all of our sins without using any one of them against us. God want his own people to emulate His character of forgiving one another whole hearted without holding grudge against your offender (s). It is inherent in the nature of man to offend one another but God wants us to always for give when offences come and then show love to your offender.
Lev. 19:18 NIV
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
For as much as people wrong you on a daily as the case may be, we also wrong God knowingly or unknowingly. Image that God also bear grudge and hold your offences against you? Do you think that you would have come this far? We pray daily to God asking for forgiveness of sin. How will God forgive you when you don't forgive your own transgressors?
Matthew 6:14-15 AMP
For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Jesus gave an illustration in Matthew 18:21-35 on the need for people to forgive themselves with the parable of the servant that owed his master and then seek for mercy when the master come demanding his debt.
God's utmost desire is for us believers to show love to one another and also to the people of the world when they offend us. To have the heart to easily forgive just as Christ did. That act always please God.
Ephesians 4:32 KJV
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS.
Has someone you cared about mistreated you? Hurt you deeply? Do you still harbor resentment and anger?
HEALTHY TIPS:
1. Unforgiveness affects your relationships with people, even your whole outlook in life.
2. Forgiveness helps you more than the person that offended you.
3. You can never be able to overcome the hurt of the past and move on freely with your life until you forgive the offenders.
4. You cannot afford to live in bo***ge because of unforgiveness. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
5. Try as much as you can and o forget offences so you can move on in life even though years may have passed.
Be determined to be active in your pursuit to forgive, begin to change your thought pattern about the person. Ask God to help you see the individual with the eyes of love and forgiveness.
For further studies.
Gen. 50:17, Matthew 18:21-35, 1 John 1:9
