This morning I came across some more thoughts on forgiveness. I’d like to share with you what I read. I believe this is important because it helps keep our hearts pure. And I believe having pure hearts helps us serve God to the fullest. Having a pure heart is something that I have to work on daily. Some days are easier than others. But it’s a daily thing for me.
Forgiveness is by the grace of God. Not something you earn. Not by our acts of service. It is not a prize. You can’t work for it. You can’t buy it. Forgiveness is a blessing. It’s a blessing that is received the instant you ask for it. Forgiveness is a matter of fact. What Christ did on the cross paid for our sins. And get this…the blood he shed on the cross has cleansed you. Read that again and believe it…the blood he shed on the cross has cleansed you. Wow!!!
Now comes the challenge. Forgiveness is a continuous act. It’s requires action on our parts. It requires us to remove from our hearts the emotions and feelings that we have been holding on to. Forgiving others…shows others God’s love. It’s uniting. It’s freedom. It’s joy, peace, and happiness. Even though those that harmed us don’t deserve it. We must remember that God has forgiven us. Did we deserve it? Do we deserve it now? I think not. And remember this as well. The moment you forgive, and I mean truly forgive, you will experience a calm and contentment like never before. It’s beyond your imagination. You’ll feel the power of God. You’ll feel the Holy Spirit move. Now here’s the most very important point. Don’t confuse salvation with forgiveness. Salvation comes with believing in our Lord and Savior. Believing is the key. Forgiveness simply releases the burdens from our hearts. So today work on forgiving. And let Christ show you the way.
