Counsels on Relationships

Counsel #16 — Foundation of Forgiveness

Picture: Counsel #16 — Foundation of Forgiveness CR 374.1

It seems like we’re all on a rollercoaster of emotions, going back and forth between falling short of the glory of God and living a transformed life. Although the cycle of “missing the spiritual mark” is emotionally exhausting, it should also lead to a personal perspective shift. CR 374.2

When you realize how much you’ve intentionally or unintentionally sinned against God, yet have still been forgiven, it’s a lot harder to hold grudges against those who have wronged you. Recognizing the depth of your own sin and how desperate you are for God’s grace helps you begin to see “enemies” as people who have made mistakes, just like you. Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the unforgiving servant, which portrayed a man who was forgiven a huge debt. This same man ultimately failed to extend forgiveness for an even smaller debt, which revealed that he hadn’t allowed the reality of his own forgiveness to take root deeply enough in his heart to transform how he treated others. CR 374.3

As Christians, the blueprint for forgiveness isn’t to forgive because they deserve it, but because you’ve been forgiven when you didn’t deserve it either.^[395] CR 374.4

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;” Luke 6:37 NIV CR 374.5

“If we expect our own prayers to be heard we must forgive others in the same manner and to the same extent as we hope to be forgiven.” Ellen White in Steps to Christ, p. 97 CR 374.6

Reflect: How has God’s forgiveness toward you shaped the way you forgive? CR 374.7