The High Cost of Forgiveness - The Crosswalk Devotional - February 20
The High Cost of Forgiveness
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, Your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” - Matthew 6:14
Have you ever said you’re sorry and asked for forgiveness from someone, only to have your apology rejected because they’re unwilling to accept it on any terms or have set up specific steps you need to fulfill before you can receive their forgiveness?
But forgiveness isn’t something any of us can earn. When we truly say we’re sorry and ask for forgiveness, even if others reject our apologies, we receive forgiveness from God.
Still, some people choose to be unforgiving because they don’t truly understand forgiveness, as it seems to be a difficult concept for many to grasp, even among Christians who claim they are forgiven by God.
Yet, there are believers in Jesus Christ who are unwilling to forgive others, setting up their own requirements in order to forgive, believing they have the authority to determine when it’s good enough and who deserves to receive it.
These unforgiving Christians seem to breeze right over verses like Colossians 3:13, which instructs, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Rather than forgiving others like they have been forgiven, they set up stipulations that others have to fulfill in order to receive their forgiveness.
Where Does Forgiveness Begin?
But forgiveness isn’t something where we decide the rules on a case-by-case basis; it originates from God, freely flowing from Him and the forgiveness He gives us.
He is our only source for forgiveness. As Ephesians 4:32 reminds, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
In and through God, we receive an unending source of forgiveness, not just for ourselves but for each other, surrendering our right to hold an unforgiving heart towards anyone else.
Forgiveness Comes at a Cost
But what many individuals don’t understand is that forgiveness comes at a cost. As Matthew 6:15 points out, “But if you do not forgive others their sins, Your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Some Christians tend to disregard these words, thinking they are worthy of God’s forgiveness even though none of us have any way of earning it on our own, yet, when it comes to them forgiving others, they determine others aren’t worthy of receiving it.
God’s forgiveness, through Jesus Christ, comes at a high cost, and in receiving it, it costs us, too, in that we give up all right to hold unforgiveness towards others.
Still, some Christians think it’s their decision who they forgive and whether or not someone deserves it or earned the right to be forgiven.
As well, they often want to dictate the route someone has to go through to receive forgiveness from them, such as saying the exact words they want said, or doing the things they want done before forgiveness is granted.
But God doesn’t give us discretion in whom to forgive based on our own reasoning and rationalization, and He doesn’t exempt us from forgiving anyone, no matter their sin or wrongdoing.
The good news is that when we repent and ask for forgiveness, God forgives us, so whether someone else forgives us or not, we are forgiven and don’t have to walk around feeling condemned.
God’s Love and Forgiveness Go Hand-in-Hand
Sadly, those who are unwilling to forgive are lacking love and haven’t truly received God’s love and forgiveness for themselves. As Jesus explains, someone who is truly forgiven not only forgives others but also loves others.
Jesus explains in Luke 7:41-43 after a sinful woman came to the home of a Pharisee where He was dining and poured perfume over His feet.
“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
”Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.’”
“You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said.”
Receiving God’s forgiveness and love go hand in hand, as He explains in Luke 7:47. “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are there individuals whom you’ve asked for forgiveness, but they are unwilling to forgive you? If so, receive God’s forgiveness and pray for their hearts to be softened and turned toward Him so that they are able to forgive you, too.
Further Reading:
Is Unforgiveness Evidence of Unbelief?
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/PeopleImages
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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