| Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Study |
"Forgiving others does more for us than it does for them. When we hold bitterness inside, our hearts become hardened to God's love. If we aren't in a place to give love, then we can't receive it.
Unforgiveness is an issue in the lives of believers and also those who don't know Christ. No one is exempt from the hurt that people cause each other. All of us have to choose to extend forgiveness to people when they do us wrong. It is important.
Jesus set this example for us in how He lived and interacted with others. He was ridiculed and tormented to the point of death. With His dying words, He offered forgiveness to those who had murdered Him.
In our daily lives, forgiveness means letting go of the hurt that comes when someone lies to us or offers unfair criticism. More pressing matters of the heart, like divorce or abandonment, require selfless forgiveness that pushes aside our personal feelings for the sake of being able to accept God's love freely."
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Forgiving others keeps us from holding grudges and keeping track of how others have wronged us. We know that God doesn't hold our sin against us. He actually chooses to forget it. He loves us unconditionally, and we should offer that same kind of love to everyone, without any strings attached.
It can be difficult to forgive, but because of the example Jesus set for us, it is possible with His help. If there is someone we need to forgive, today would be an excellent time to reach out and offer that to them.
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