Despite my best intentions, I’m not always so good at dealing with anger. I’m not alone with this problem, which means that opportunities to seek and grant forgiveness abound.
The Art of Marriage retreat last month reminded Monica and me how it’s a privilege for Christians to seek and grant forgiveness. It’s a privilege because our forgiving attitude helps us better experience the reality of God’s forgiveness. To quote the apostle Paul: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Paul’s words are a command, revealing how God wants what’s best for us. He doesn’t set up rules to make life miserable, but to enable us to experience true freedom. And forgiveness is a choice we make that
sets the other person free from the debt of the offense. Forgiveness also sets us free from resentment and wanting vengeance.
I jotted in the margin of my Art of Marriage workbook that “forgiven sinners forgive. We reflect God’s generous forgiveness of us when we forgive one another.”
I also blogged about the Art of Marriage here.
Calvin & Hobbes graphic found via Google.
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4th Point 