Forgive and Forget
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
Joe was dying, and it was time he wanted to make everything right.
He was at odds with Bill, who had been one of his best friends. They
hadn't
spoken to each other for many years. Due to some petty thing that neither
one could take a step backwards. Wanting to resolve the problem, he asked
Bill to visit him.
When Bill arrived, Joe told him that he was afraid to go into eternity
with
bad feelings between them, and he wanted to make things right. then he
reached out for Bill's hand and said "I forgive you." Will you forgive me?
Bill said he would, but just as he was leaving, Joe shouted, "But
remember,
if
I get better, this doesn't count!"
We may smile at this story. yet what a clear picture this gives of the way
we sometimes treat one another. The forgiveness we profess is often
superficial.
It may be prompted by fear, or to gain some selfish advantage, or to clear
our conscience, not out of genuine love for God and the one who has
wronged
us.
Yes, we may say we forgive, but when the least little friction arises, we
are quick to resurrect past grievances. How different is the forgiveness
Jesus talked about!
In our scripture the apostle Paul left no doubt about the nature of
genuine
forgiveness when he said we are to forgive one another just as God has
forgiven us.
What this all means is, we are to forgive, and forget.
[Read Matthew 18:15-22]
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