September 18

If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained. John 20:23.

I am often troubled by the fact that many Christians have not learned to forgive the sins of others. Whether the sins are against you personally, or they are sins against your brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to forgive. Here, in the above passage, Jesus has just breathed upon the disciples and given them the Holy Spirit. They now have the power, the wisdom, and the deep love for others that would allow them to forgive. It is not that God, the Father, has given up His right to forgive—He has extended this awesome privilege and responsibility to us as well. Jesus, in the so-called Lord’s prayer, added a similar statement in Matthew 6:14,15.

Are we equipped to deal with this gift? Yes, without question. Furthermore, it is to our benefit that we forgive others. Not only are they set free to see the Grace of God at work, to sense that we are not holding a grudge against them or their behavior, but we are set free as well. No longer will we be occupied with the fruitless endeavor of mulling their acts over and over in our mind. We can go onward and upward in Christ, knowing full well that we too have been forgiven in ways that go far beyond our comprehension. Yes, we are modeling Christ when we forgive. At the cross He even forgave them for what they were doing even though they did not understand.

Today, Lord Jesus, let me be a person that fully forgives all those around me. I know they may not understand, but I will. I know that You are the author and fulfiller of all forgiveness—I am not at risk for desiring to forgive anyone. Together we can startle all around me who have not seen fit to do what is right in Your sight. We can reach out in love and provide the forgiveness that is beyond comprehension. Thank You, and Amen.
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