When people hurt us and offend us, forgiveness is often the last thing we feel like doing. Instead of forgiving, we feel like holding a grudge and retaliating. The truth is that forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a decision we make in light of all God has done for us and His great love for all of humanity.
Jesus called His followers to choose to forgive in Mark 11. In this passage of Scripture, He told His disciples, 'I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours" (verse 24). What a promise Jesus gave His disciples in this passage of Scripture! He continued teaching, "But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too" (verse 25). Forgiveness is so important that before we pray, we are to forgive anyone with whom we are angry. This forgiveness is a choice. Jesus did not instruct His followers to feel like forgiving before actually forgiving those whom they had a grudge against. He just instructed them to forgive, regardless of their feelings.
Forgiveness is not easy, particularly when the offense against us is great. Despite our feelings, we are called to forgive others before we turn to God in prayer. The beautiful thing about choosing to forgive is that forgiveness helps us. You see, forgiveness is not just about the other person who hurt us. Forgiveness impacts us just as much as the person we forgive. When we choose to forgive, we are able to let go of anger, bitterness, and resentment, three things that will destroy us if we hold on to them.
My friend, are you harboring anger against someone today? Your hurt and pain are real, but you do not have to stay stuck in that hurt and pain. Instead, choose to forgive. As you forgive, you will find the freedom that comes from letting go of bitterness, anger, and resentment. Find freedom in forgiveness today.
Earlier this week, you were challenged to think of the people in your life whom you need to forgive. If you have not done this yet, take a moment to think of someone you need to forgive whom you have been harboring anger or unforgiveness toward. Today, your challenge is to choose to forgive. Take a step toward forgiveness today, whatever that may look like, regardless of your feelings. Ask God to help you as you seek to do this.
1 As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’”
4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it.
8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.
15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.
19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city.
20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
