Old Joe was dying.
For years he was at odds with Bill, once one of his best friends.
Wanting to clear things up, he sent a message to Bill to come see him.
When Bill arrived, Joe told him he was afraid of going into eternity with such feelings between them.
Then, reluctantly and with great effort, Joe apologized for the things he had said and done.
He also reassured Bill that he had forgiven him for his trespasses.
Everything seemed fine until Bill turned to leave. As he walked out of the room, Joe yelled at him, “But remember, if I get better, it doesn’t count!”
Joe started out with the right attitude…but it didn’t take long for his intentions to surface.
Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice we make.
Many people do not feel forgiven because they have not learned to forgive others. Evangelist Billy Graham once said, “75% of hospital patients could be healed if they learned to forgive.” »
But choosing to forgive someone who has mistreated or hurt you isn’t always easy to do.
In his book “You Can Win,” Roger Campbell talks about a woman who was mistreated by her church and came to them for help.
He sympathized with her plight, but he also realized that she would not be freed from her hurt feelings until she had a glimpse of the suffering Christ.
“Has anyone ever spat on you?” » asked Campbell.
“No,” she replied, shocked by his question.
“They did it to Jesus,” he told her.
Campbell went on to say, “Suddenly she understood my point of view.
Although she had certainly been mistreated by people who should have known better, she had not endured the pain and shame experienced by Christ in his suffering and death for her sins.
My simple question changed her attitude toward her tormentors and she was able to forgive those who had snubbed and avoided her.
The simple fact is that there are no perfect churches, perfect pastors, or perfect people.
Sooner or later, someone will say or do something that will hurt you, and when the time comes, you will be faced with a choice: forgive them or blame them?
In Matthew chapter 6 we find the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus wanted to teach his disciples the right way to pray for their needs and for each other.
In the middle of the prayer he adds this line: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” »
Then He explains it in verses 14-15: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. »
The lesson Jesus was trying to teach his disciples was this: either learn to forgive, or stop asking God to give you something that you are not ready to give to others!
Every relationship we have thrives on forgiveness. Husbands and wives must learn to forgive… parents and children must learn to forgive… even Christians must learn to forgive.
If someone has hurt you, turn to the One who knows how you feel.
Jesus understands what pain and loneliness feel like.
It will help you forgive them and begin the healing process.
He will also forgive you as you learn to forgive others…because no one is worth ruining the ending of your story!

Rev. Doug Johnson, Senior Pastor, First Assembly of God of Lexington, Kentucky.