To forgive or not to forgive? That is the question!

Matthew 6:14-15 14“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15“But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.” (Proverbs 14:10).

Ephesians 4:31“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."

As we see in scripture, we must forgive. It is a mandate from God. Forgiving doesn't mean we have to restore a relationship with the person(s) that have sinned against us. 

I personally have seen God bless me for forgiving someone who sinned against me. It especially hurts when it's a relative and a Christian. I left the situation up to the Lord and when I found bitterness creeping in I prayed for Him to remove it. He blessed me for it.

A simple sign of a true Christian is when we are wronged do we curse or pray?
A simplified example would be; when you are driving and someone cuts you off in traffic; What do you do? 
Curse them? 
Or
Pray for them?

I recall while serving as a chaplain a resident complaining about an employee. There was a lasting bitterness in the residents heart towards this person. I explained to the resident that maybe this employee is having a rough time in their personal life. Try this next time they saw this employee. "You look like you are having a rough day. Can I pray for you?" The bitterness was consuming the resident and it was affecting their relationship with other residents.

Forgiveness is what Jesus Christ is all about. How can we profess to be a Christian and not forgive? 

On the other hand. What if we sinned (wronged) against someone? We should apologize to that person. Whether they forgive us doesn't matter. That is between them and God.

Forgiving and apologizing sets you free. You become the person Jesus wants you to be. Don't be held a prisoner by a bitter heart. It blackens your soul.

When our time is up on this earth how will you be remembered? As a caring, forgiving person or as a bitter complaining person? The choice is yours.

Blessings, David 
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com