Forgiving someone who has wronged us is for our own benefit. It has nothing to do with them, but everything to do with our walk with God. If we understand how WE have all wronged God, partook in the death of His Son Jesus the Christ on the cross, and yet God forgave us in such a powerfully profound way, then it should be easy for us to forgive and even pray for that soul. In most cases, what someone has done to us does not deserve them suffering an eternity in hell for instance.
And forgiving someone doesn't mean we have to subject ourselves to their abuse either. I have forgiven people I will probably never talk to again. Because they are poisonous to my well being. However, I had to forgive them because I know I needed forgiveness from God for all my shortcomings. And EVERYONE has these shortcomings to where we NEED forgiveness from God. Staying angry at someone takes energy. That energy is supposed to be used on serving the Lord. The unforgiveness turns into an idol. Because according to God's word we can't have God AND unforgiveness in our hearts. If we are seeking God with all our heart, there will be no room for unforgiveness anyway. It only hurts ourselves. It only causes anger and bitterness and the works of the flesh. Our eye must be "single" Jesus said. When our eye is "single" then "your whole body also is full of light;" (Luke 11:34, 35) That means all our focus on Jesus and His Word. Just pray to Jesus and tell Him you forgive everyone and ask the Father to forgive you. And just forget about them and focus on God's word and our own growth and need for forgiveness on a daily basis. The forgiving others "their trespasses" is part of what is often called "The Lord's Prayer" and is a fundamental part of serving God! This is part of walking in the light as 1 John 1:7 says, "if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." And we NEED this. Not doing this only hurts ourselves.
This may sound hard. Well, we are in a fight. And this is definitely part of that fight. If we fall short in any way, don't give up. Keep fighting and keep asking God for power and grace to overcome and grow into the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Print out the verses you need the most as hang them where you will see them everyday. Knowledge is one thing, we may all know the Word of God. But walking in that knowledge is love. And can be done only by God's holy Spirit within us which He promises to give us freely if we ask....
May God the Father bless you all in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Anointed One. Amen
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