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Compassionate Forgiveness




“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” 
- Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Have you found yourself, from time to time, holding onto some small grudge against someone?  I know that I have!  Whether it is between you and a friend, a family member, or some complete stranger who drives 20 mph under the speed limit or cuts you off, holding onto grudges is exactly the opposite response against an offender that God calls us to have!  Holding onto a grudge is the easy response to some wrong committed against you.  It is also poisonous to our souls!

In this verse, Paul is passionately calling the Ephesian church to the ultimate “Christ-like” activity that we can do as Christians.  God is calling us to be compassionate towards others by forgiving them just like God forgave us.  God had every right to not forgive us and still has that right, but he chose to send his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be the permanent sacrifice that covers all of the guilt of all of our sins!  He chose to forgive us our sins even before we were born!  He chooses to never hold a grudge against us.  

Why would God do this?  God chooses to forgive us because he is full of compassion.  Just like God is full of compassion for us, be full of compassion for everyone you meet by forgiving them for all of the wrongs that they may commit against you.  When we find ourselves willingly forgiving others out of a compassionate attitude, we will find that we are doing exactly what God desires and calls us to do!  Be blessed this week, and compassionately forgive others without holding onto grudges!
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