The greatness of God’s creation regarding man is choice. Unlike
animals humans have the ability to choose their courses. You are not like the
ant (preprogrammed) or like a bear operating on instinct. You are not like a
dog that reacts to its environment and becomes the sum of its input. No matter
what has happened to you, no matter how oppressed, you were given the power of
transforming choice. Our species alone can understand, reason, and make
choices, the most important being to choose to forgive, to truly love. In this
regard, you were created to be God’s image-bearer, to mirror love, forgiveness,
grace and to choose that which is necessary for you to be just, true, pure, and
holy. (Phil 6:4.)
Forgiveness is a key heart issue and fundamental to be free of
spiritual bondages. In this world there are many things, events, words and
people that offend God’s sensibilities and ours. Jesus is your example of how
to deal with them. He came to save, heal and bless, but was crucified by those
He came to help. Still, He didn’t hold a grudge; to the contrary, He opened the
door to forgiveness and right standing with God through His suffering.
The issue is never the offense, but how to respond to it.
Because of everything God has forgiven you for, you have the obligation to
forgive those who have offended you. And, to be blunt (the truth of this will
set you free), you no longer have the right to withhold your forgiveness.
Decide to forgive because Jesus forgave you; this should become the very core
of your personhood.
The ability to forgive not only makes you human; the act of
forgiveness is an extremely important part of the process of setting you free
(and others free) and making you a warrior for God. Your lack of forgiveness is
a spiritual tie (a connection to the spirit world) that binds you to life as it
was before you knew Christ. It’s old (dead) news!
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