Forgiving in the face of suffering is one of Jesus’ most extraordinary acts of compassion and mercy as He suffers on the cross. Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[1]
As we reflect on this verse, we see that it encourages believers to embrace the power of forgiveness in their own lives. It reminds us that God calls us to forgive others just as Jesus forgave those who wronged Him. When we do, it breaks the cycle of bitterness and resentment.
Often, bitterness and resentment are dangerous arrows the enemy shoots at us. Yes, others may have wronged us, but when we choose not to forgive, we fall into the trap of the enemy who wants to destroy us. This self-imposed prison of bitterness has ruined many lives. Ephesians 4:26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. [2]
True Forgiveness Flows from the Heart
Meditating on what Jesus did on the cross transforms our hearts into one of thankfulness. Paul gives insight into the gift the Lord has given us in Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. [3]
We deserve hell for eternity, but Jesus took all of our sins on the cross. This enables Him to call us to faith and forgive us. Think of all the sins each of us has committed and what that cost Jesus. Being forgiven, the Lord now asks us to forgive others when they sin against us.
A heart that loves the Lord is a heart that can forgive, and with God’s help, we can. Today, you may struggle to forgive someone, and the Lord is calling you to come to the cross. At the cross, the Lord can pour into us so we have the strength to have a forgiving heart.
Grace Saves Us
Jesus suffered on the cross so He could forgive us. There is no amount of good deeds we could ever do to pay for our sins and enter heaven. Ephesians 2:8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.[4]
Grace is God’s undeserved love, the same love that allowed Jesus to forgive those crucifying Him. That kind of love is so deep it is beyond our comprehension. Forgiveness is essential to the Christian faith, reflecting God’s love and grace. When we choose to forgive others, it changes us, giving us peace and allowing us to witness Christ’s love for others.
To learn more about forgiving in the face of suffering, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-ultimate-sacrifice
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.