I think this is something that bears repeating. It's a very powerful lesson,that does have a practical application here.
Forgiveness is an act of love given to the one that has been the offender. It releases the one that has been offended,from anger,bitterness and hatred. One that truly forgives cannot remain angry,retain a hurt,or harbor bitterness because it comes from love. It restores the offender and lets them let go of the guilt.
While it is very hard to do to forgive the uncle that raped you as a child,to forgive the father that despised you,the sister that takes you for over $40,000 and tries to get all the rest from you,to forgive the classmates that picked on you and called you horrible names,the guys who jump you in the bathroom,the roommate that steals your car,the roommate that tries to kill you,the co-workers that threaten to do you bodily harm,etc etc Never easy to do but it brings so great a release and sets the one who forgives free. It brings healing to the heart and soul.
Once it's done the first time it becomes so much easier,to just let it go. The things that at first seems so hard to overcome become so much easier,and even when someone else does the same thing it doesn't hurt as bad because is not compounded because the first was healed. It's an awesome thing.
How many of us really think about the words we say each week? Most of us say them time after time,week after week. Within those words contain a message that we often don't think about. It's an expectation,contained within the very prayer that we so often repeat. It's most often known as the Lord's prayer or as some call it the disciples prayer.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
The expectation is that we will forgive in the same manner as which we seek to be forgiven by our Father in heaven. It is a practical application of showing the love we have for God by showing it to one another.
Then it becomes an act of obedience out of love.
See and one of the things that COMES out of being able to forgive is healing for our hurts,through it God helps us to release these things to Him and through it comes healing to the heart,soul and mind.
