Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
(Colossians 3:13 NIV)
Once, two kindergarten students were fighting over a toy. “Let it go!” yelled one of them. “Let it go!” shouted the other, and soon, the whole class was singing the famous Disney song, “Let it go, let it go.” What started out as a struggle turned into a funny episode.
Let it go. That’s what it really means to forgive – to let go of the offence and let God deal with the person who has offended us. Jesus taught about forgiveness and exemplified forgiveness, and that’s what the apostle Paul implored us to do in today’s passage, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” In another letter, Paul had the following to say about forgiveness, “Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). Any unforgiveness we may hold in our hearts only gives Satan ground in our lives, so it’s best that we learn to let go of the offence and forgive.
I often make a conscious decision to forgive. Is it always easy? No, but with God’s help it’s possible. When you’re having a hard time forgiving someone who has hurt you, remember what Jesus did for you on the cross and let it go.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
–Jesus (Luke 23:34)
Rising with the Son 