If you’re in a relationship with someone, it’s probably fair to say that you’ve had at least one moment of regret on how you treated that person. Even a healthy relationship will experience regrets, but it’s how you address those issues of conflict that make it a negative thing or a positive thing.
When it comes to our relationship with God, we’re the ones that repeatedly add moments of regrets. Although we may not always understand God’s involvement in our lives, we have faith that whatever He’s doing is intended to help us rather than hurt us. (Jeremiah 29:11, James 1:1-4, Romans 8:28)
But it’s our intentions that may be less than honorable. Thus, the reason we need forgiveness. Thankfully, Jesus came to make forgiveness possible. Colossians 2:13-14, “He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
By taking away our sins, He also opened up a practical guide to forgiving other people’s offenses against us. It doesn’t take a sociologist to realize how much a lack of forgiveness has caused permanent damage to so many relationships. Yet Jesus had every reason to NOT forgive the people who had rejected His gift of life, when they had Him crucified on the cross.
Instead the example He offered by His life serves as our motivation to “forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Forgiveness serves as one of the most difficult demonstrations of our faith. To swallow our pride and do as Paul said in Ephesians 4:2-3, “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
There are numerous physical benefits to letting go of hard feelings, disagreements, and conflicts in the name of being a “peacemaker.” But first and foremost, there are great blessings in being called a Peacemaker, because... “they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9).
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