The Blessings & Benefits of Forgiveness:
Forgiveness Is Christianity At Its Highest Peak!
Each month when I begin to write this article, my mind is filled with ideas and my heart is pumped with emotion. I’ve always enjoyed putting words on paper and even though I have no idea how many people read these short essays, that really doesn’t matter. Often I start and restart, wanting to glorify and honor the Lord, and seeking to express something that might be an encouragement to at least one reader. The topic of forgiveness has been rolling around in my head for quite a while. I realize that I won’t be able to cover everything that could/would/should be said about it, but I’d like to say enough about this marvelous gift from God to influence you to consider how forgiveness should affect our actions and attitudes every single day! We should never underestimate its value to our personal welfare.
With that said, an initial reality that’s essential for us to process is that unforgiveness is a toxic poison that fills our hearts with bitterness, and deceives our thinking in a way that distorts our entire perception of life. Among other harmful emotions, anger, anxiety, and aggression often begin to overshadow and overwhelm us. Therefore, having an accurate understanding of God’s capacity for forgiveness is fundamental to our spiritual, personal, physical, and emotional health. In other words, finding forgiveness for ourselves and then extending forgiveness to others will provide good medicine for our souls.
—Psalm 32 By David; A well—written song.
1 How blessed is the one whose rebellion is forgiven,
whose sin is pardoned.
2 How blessed is the one whose wrongdoing the Lord
does not punish, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body
wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My energy was drained away by the fever heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You,
I no longer tried to hide my wrongdoing.
I said, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And then You forgave the guilt of my sins.
6 Therefore, let every one who is godly pray to You when You may be found; Surely when the surging water rises,
it will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place; You protect me from distress.
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct and teach you about how you should live.
I will counsel you as I look you in the eye.
9 Don’t be like the horse or mule who don’t understand, unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be surrounded by lovingkindness!
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones!
Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!
Please notice and carefully read Psalm 32 above. In this passage, based on his personal experience, David encourages others to seek the Lord’s amazing grace and goodness by acknowledging and confessing sin. He also describes the pain, sorrow, and tensions that will mount up when we try to hide or pretend that we’re not influenced or impacted by sinful temptations and tendencies. David’s counsel/advice in verses 6—11 is direct, straightforward, very personal, and true. We can avoid unnecessary distress and enjoy God’s peace and deliverance if we pray for God’s power and protection any/every time sin begins to tempt or trouble us. Verse 9 appears to be David’s description of himself when Nathan came to confront him about his horrible sin with Bathsheba. It’s sad when we are forced to confess our missteps and shortcomings. I’d like to conclude this article with a few specific points of application. As authentic (faithful) followers of Christ, we all have God’s Spirit living in us, but until we arrive in the glory of Heaven, none of us are immune from the potential and power of sin.
—1— God’s forgiveness thru Christ’s sacrifice is an amazing blessing! It’s a reason for great rejoicing every day!
—2— If we, like David, have experienced the mercy of being pardoned from the penalty of sin and have
received the grace of being granted forgiveness for our sins, we should tell others about it.
—3— Extending forgiveness can be challenging, but we should always remember that unforgiveness is toxic,
often causing unnecessary distress and difficulty. God will help us do what’s right!
—4— Because we’ve received forgiveness from God, the words of Paul in Ephesians 4:31—32 should resonate in us.
“Don’t allow bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander, or malice to overwhelm you.
Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has
forgiven you.” When forgiveness takes hold of us, our actions and attitudes will change!