“There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” -Josh Billings
Someone you love so dearly has done the unthinkable to you. In all the years that you have known and possibly grown up with her, you would never think that this person you’ve called your best friend, would treat you this way. To your surprise, you find that you have been talked about, and even scorned for something so trivial and meaningless, but not to the point that it didn’t affect you when you realized who it came from. Just when you thought you would never speak to this person again, and for a lack of better terms, ostracize her, you chose instead to love the unlovely. Your heart softens and takes you to better times between the two of you, and what do you do? You forgive her. But how many times have you told yourself, “I’ll forgive her, but I won’t forget?”
Going through times like these can really be detrimental not only physically but to your mental psyche. The devil has a way to make you bitter and resentful towards people who have wronged you. And instead of you having the love of God for your enemies as Jesus commanded you to, you come out fighting and finding every excuse in the book to not forgive. But remember as a believer, you are in the world but not of the world (See John 15:19). When people see the light of God on your life, they can’t stand it, and you become a hater of the world. The devil himself hates it when he can’t get to one of God’s chosen vessels.
So, if you choose to be of this world and continually hold a grudge on ones who despitefully use you, imagine what it would be like if Jesus did the same. Every time He said to you, “Your sins are forgiven,” imagine Him then saying, “But I won’t forget.” Imagine that every time you went to your heavenly Father in prayer, He would bring up every occurrence in your life in which you fell short of the glory of God. Your relationship with the people around you is just as important to God as your relationship with Him. Consider what I John 4:20 says: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” You have to love your enemies as yourself. Yes, it’s hard to do, but nothing, and I mean nothing is hard for God. He loves you so much, even with your sinful ways, but still sees you as the apple of His eye, and fearfully and wonderfully made. That even pertains to your enemies.
So the next time you are thinking, “I will forgive her, but I won’t forget”, think again. Your words have life to them. Forgive her and then forget it, just as Jesus does when he blots out every transgression after asking for His forgiveness (see Acts 3:19). A simple act of forgiveness will put you on a path set for blessings and fruitful relationships to come. The choice is yours.
In His Love,
Lily
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Copyright © 2008 by Lily L. Ratliff. REPRINTING THIS ARTICLE: Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this article only in its entirety and provided copyright is acknowledged.
Posted By: Elder Lily Jenkins
Wednesday, October 29th 2008 at 6:32AM
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