S. Colossians 3:13 (NIV) “Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgives you.”
O. As God’s people, Paul writes that we are to bear and forive each ohter. We are not to hold grudges. we are not to keep one another in a state of perpetual grievance. The word “bear” means to hold up, to stay on with one another. We are not let others fall. We are to forgive as the Lord forgives us. What does that look like? God forgave us (and forgives us) before there is any action on our part. He has paved the way toward reconciliation. Both verbs (bear and forgive) are present tense which means this is something we are to do every day. This is sometimes referred to as the “clothing of a Christian.”
A. I like to think that I am a forgiving person and for the most part, I am. However, when I consider various areas of my life and actions with people, I do see I have times when I am not as forgiving as I think I am. But I am to forgive as the Lord forgives each of us. I will remember and apply this to each situation and in advance - I forgive those who may have caused me sometype of harm, so that the door of reconcilation can be opened and ready to walk through.
P. Thank you Father for your word today. What a great teaching. Holy Spirit, fill me and guide me to forgive in advance, just as I have been forgiven by you. In Jesus’ name!
