forgive

A Story Of Forgiveness

Read: Philemon 4-21

This is a wonderful story of God's forgiveness and restoration and the need to forgive others that have done us wrong. We all have times in our lives where we need to forgive and be forgiven. As long as we live in our human flesh, we will be hurt and hurt others. Sometimes we may not realize we have hurt someone else.

I believe that forgiveness is the key to healing. It is the start point in the healing process. We can never know true inner peace until we have forgiven. I know it's not easy. We may feel completely justified in holding onto un-forgiveness. But the problem with that is bitterness gets in and takes root. We continually think about it, reliving it over and over. It needn't be that way. It's only destroying us and taking away our joy and peace in life.

Philemon needed to forgive Onesimus for stealing from him. Paul mentions in verses 15-16, to receive him back, not as a slave, but as a brother. We should too. We need to choose to forgive. Place it at the foot of the cross and leave it there. It's then we know God's peace and love filling us. We will sense a heavy burden being lifted from us, because un-forgiveness is a heavy load to bear.

If you feel you have any un-forgiveness or resentment in your heart, will you give it up to the Lord today? He loves you and truly understands what you have been through. The start point to truly being free is to forgive.