When Sorry Isn't Enough

"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Colossians 3:13

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Have you ever offended someone unintentionally?  I have.  

You can tell immediately by the person's body language or expression on their face that you have offended them by the words you have just spoken.  You quickly apologize and explain that the words didn't come out right, what you meant to say was entirely different.

But instead of forgiveness, a grudge begins to take root. Your 'I'm sorry" was not enough.  

Jesus takes forgiveness very seriously.  

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

Matthew 18:21-22

Jesus requires us to forgive others when they sin against us, (intentionally or not) limitlessly; every single day.  There should never be an offence or an occasion where we do not offer our forgiveness towards a person who has offended us.

I'm so very thankful that Jesus forgives me when I tell Him I'm sorry.  He never makes me apologize repeatedly for my transgression.  He never holds a grudge.  He forgives AND He forgets.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

Psalm 103:12

"He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19

Friend, be quick to forgive.

And if someone is harboring unforgiveness towards you...

        forgive them...

            It's the right thing to do...

                But that's just me!

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."

C.S. Lewis

"Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ."

Oswald Chambers