unforgiveness is a problem

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

How many of us have a hard time forgiving people? If you are human, you most likely have to answer YES to that question. There are times that we say we forgive but move in a direction that is unhealthy holding unforgiveness which leads to bitterness which can lead to other issues including health problems.

We offer the love of God when we forgive people the way God has forgiven us. Maybe we need a reminder. Maybe we need to take a look at how much we needed someone to forgive us at one point or another.

1 John 2:12 NLT

I am writing to you who are God's children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

Unforgiveness is somewhat like a rotten apple. Just one will spoil all the others around it. Love is the same. When we show a little of God's love and offer forgiveness to others, it will effect and impact the people around us. God is full of that. His character is to love and forgive. We need to accept His love and forgiveness and then offer that same love and forgiveness to others.

I'd like to be known by who I belong to and maybe even have this said about me as it was said about God.

Psalm 86:5 NLT

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help

The choice is yours: forgive or don't forgive. The choice is yours: do what Jesus would do or do something else. By choosing to forgive we go the extra step to let people experience the love of God. Let's be known as people who offer grace and forgiveness to those in need. It just may change someone's life (ours and others).

Colossians 3:13 NLT

Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Comments

Steve Blumer said…

good word Michael. it's so true and it's crazy how unforgiveness really eats up at the person who needs to forgive just as much or more than the person that receives the forgiveness.

June 15, 2011 at 3:54:00 PM EDT

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