Forgiveness is Easy for God

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

(Hebrews 8:12)

I'm sure, like me, everyone has been hurt by someone. It’s inevitable that we’re going to be seriously, emotionally wounded sooner or later. I find it so hard to forgive when the offense is grave and hurtful. There is no way I can forget the wrongdoing even though I wish I could. I tend to hold on to the transgression in my mind. I will think about the different ways I can take revenge. After all, it’s only fair that the offender hurts as much as I do, right?

So, I ask myself, why has God forgiven of me. I know I would have never actually killed someone, but I’ve hated them enough to have wished harm would come to them. I know I’ve hurt someone very deeply and never asked for their forgiveness, so they’ve probably wanted to cause me bodily harm also. It’s the world we live in. If you hurt me, I naturally want to hurt you. It’s a vicious circle and the devil will try to make sure we keep it going. You see, unforgiveness is a poison that will destroy our souls.

I usually don’t think my sins are so terribly bad. However, when I compare my actions to the perfection of a holy God, I deserve whatever wrath he deems just. However, God has promised to forgive even the greatest of sins and then forget them forever, if I ask for his forgiveness. Like me, everyone is wicked and evil when likened to God. There is no one, least of all me, good enough to escape the punishment of hell without God’s pardon. Take someone the world considers to be the best of us, one as close to human perfection as it gets, Mother Theresa. She is a plain old ordinary sinner just like the rest of us.

Every time I commit the tiniest little sin I’ve hurt God! Every little white lie, every lustful glance, every hateful thought causes the heavenly Father terrible grief. If God were to apply the same standards on me for forgiveness as I use for those who hurt me, I’d be in terrible trouble. Because everything I do that offends God, is punishable by death Thankfully, he is not like me. There is nothing so bad that he won’t forgive. He is so good his plan from the foundation of the universe was to save me and you!

Heavenly Father, how do we thank you enough. We have sinned and hurt you deeply, and yet you forgive our every wicked act, just because we ask you to. There are many times when we listen to the lies of the devil who tells us we’ve done something so bad, you will not forgive us. Lord, give us to desire and courage to bow down and humble ourselves, and reverently ask for your pardon. Father, we know we don’t deserve to be exonerated for the terrible things we do, but we are so grateful that you do. Even after we say we have forgiven someone who has hurt us, unlike you, we never forget. We bring it up and throw it in their face every chance we get. Before we react to those memories of being hurt and wanting to seek revenge, help us to forgive our antagonists, every time the memories come up if necessary. Give us a heart like yours, that’s quick to forgive and easily forgets. Help us, Lord, to be as quick to forgive ourselves and others as you are to forgive us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!