But there is forgiveness with thee... Psalm 130:4

The ideal of forgiveness is a choice and an emotion of supernatural composition. It is not a humanly natural trait. A heart of forgiveness can only come from the God who gives it. Yet, as hard as it can be to forgive, we are asked to do it often. Why?

If I could think of one characteristic of Christ as it pertains to my relationship with the Lord, I think it would have to be forgiveness. There is not one trait of my Lord that overshadows my relationship with him as much or as strong as his forgiveness toward me. Forgiveness is by definition to pardon or remit and offense or debt; to overlook an offense and treat the offender as not guilty of the said offense.

Many times there is not forgiveness with man. But Psalm 130:4 is one of my favorite verses because He is always willing and able to forgive. His forgiveness toward me is what makes me love him so. In fact, every time I confess my sin to him, I find myself in deep thanks and gratitude for his forgiveness, being amazed at the fact that he would forgive me yet again. In fact, if it wasn't God that was doing the forgiving, I wouldn't believe it to be genuine. But my God is amazing!

So, in essence, to be like Christ, we ought to be a forgiving people. And yet, I think this is one thing that most Christians never learn--a forgiving heart! I think we've learned, in a lot of ways, how to abuse the goodness of God by never showing the goodness we've received to others.

In the account of Matthew 18:21-35, we find a lesson by the Lord Jesus about a man that owed a great debt. After being forgiven by the king of this insurmountable debt, he would not forgive his neighbor of a simple, small debt. Do you think you've been forgiven of 100 sins? 10,000? Probably more? Christ forgave you of all those sins, never needing forgiveness himself, yet needing forgiveness on a constant basis, we would dare to refuse forgiving others. How many times have you not forgiven someone in your heart, then asked God for his forgiveness?

I believe there are Christians all over standing in churches thanking God for forgiveness, and if they would be real quiet, they would hear the Holy Spirit yelling back, "Then why don't you forgive?"

Forgiveness is as much for the one giving it as it is for the one receiving it. Why? Because if you desire to be Christlike, you must forgive. If you do not forgive someone, you are hindering both yourself, and the one you refuse to forgive, in your walk with the Lord.

Has someone ever forgiven you? How did you feel about that? Thankful? Do others deserve forgiveness less than you do?

Galatians 6:1-3
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."

The issue of unforgiveness stems from pride. You cannot harbor unforgiveness in a humble heart. You cannot harbor unforgiveness in a heart that is right with God.

The bottom line is, people are worth forgiving. I've heard people say, "You don't know what they did to me." To that I say, I also don't know what you did to the Lord that he forgave you for.

Just forgive.