“You don’t forgive because the other person deserves it; you forgive because you have been forgiven.”

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-08-22) from his book, It Came from Within!: The Shocking Truth of What Lurks in the Heart (p. 145). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition.

That is why so many can’t forgive. They don’t feel like they have been forgiven.

One of the great benefits to having a relationship with Christ is the ability to forgive others because we have been forgiven. 1 john 1.9 says, “If we confess He’ll forgive.” Now of course for some that is a problem. They will not ever admit that they have ever been wrong so confessing for them is a problem. But admitting is the plart you pay and forgiveness is the part He plays.

Now let me tell you, admitting can be so liberating in its self. I mean the action you did that you know is wrong keeps you in a state of negative guilt and in that state you feel miserable. And of course when you feel miserable no way do you want someone else to feel good. So no way are you going to forgive them. They shouldn’t feel better than you. They need to feel miserable too like you. But when you admit you were wrong, that guilt no longer has any power and then when God forgives you it’s gone and now you want everyone else to feel as good as you do.

Confession to God and being forgiven by Him frees you up to forgive others. Having a relationship with God makes a difference in you and in your relationships. So that’s where it starts. Admit and then ask. Admit where you have been wrong and then ask His forgiveness.

Now the truth is none of us deserve to be forgive but He will so we can.

So are you going to do it?

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