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Offering forgiveness can seem easy when a person asks forgiveness for something that we feel is trivial or that we conceive is not really their fault. However, it can be extremely difficult if you feel wronged by someone and even more so when they intentionally seek to hurt you; how can you forgive the man who murdered your husband or the woman who molested your son?
Our default setting is to hold on to grudges and demand justice for ourselves, but Jesus’ words on the cross reflects a way of life that contrast with this attitude when he says,
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34, NIV)
He is not demanding justice for himself but is actually praying for the well being of his enemy.
Often the reason we won’t forgive is because we want the person who wronged us to suffer. We believe that withholding our forgiveness and being bitter towards them will somehow punish them. We want to hold the power of justice in our own hands.
Forgiveness means surrendering this attitude to God – trusting that He is just and will do what is right.
More often than not, forgiving others brings release not only to them but to ourselves as well.