The "F" Word

“Peter replied, ‘Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ –Acts 2:37-38


The “F” word is a word many people shy away from. It’s seen as low, humiliating, embarrassing, and it can ruin your reputation. This word is ‘forgiveness.’ Forgiving is an art not practiced very often nowadays, and one seen as weakness or cowardice, even lame. “Just brush it off, they’ll get over it” or “It’s over already, too late,” are common excuses to not man up and ask forgiveness. Can you imagine what would happen to us if Jesus used one of those excuses?

After being tortured beyond recognition, while hanging on the cross on the brink of death, Jesus cried out to God, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing!” (Luke 23:34). Even after being betrayed by His own people, persecuted, and now being mocked and scorned for being the Truth while barely hanging onto His last few moments of life, He still had the strength to forgive.

Forgiveness is a very difficult thing; it’s putting aside petty feelings of hatred and loving someone who has done you wrong in spite of the circumstances. Think of the Prodigal Son, who went on his own, spent his inheritance, then crawled back to his father, asking only to be a servant, declaring himself unworthy. This parable is a picture of us, in our sinful ways, crawling back to Christ our Father and asking Him for forgiveness. But in order to be forgiven, we must accept we have done something wrong.

Forgiveness is widely recognized by the general population as a necessary part of the healing process. It’s the same with the salvation process also, meaning yes, we have done something wrong, against Jesus. Thankfully, Jesus always forgives us if we repent, and we are welcomed into His loving arms. There are many people who need forgiveness in their life, as do we. One of the greatest commandments given is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Would you want to be forgiven for something you have done wrong? Are you ready to show God’s love through your forgiveness? Are you willing to forgive today?

Retrieved from www.tddm.org, author unknown.