Perfect Forgiveness

Scripture – Colossians 3:12-14: ¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) There are many things in this passage that speak to me. I guess the one that pops out most clearly to me is forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is perfect. When He forgives me, what I’ve done wrong is in the past. And He doesn’t hold it against me anymore. That’s how I am called to forgive. And that’s where I still fall short. There are people I have really not forgiven. I hold on to resentments. Even now I can bring to mind grievances that happened years ago. And if I let them fester, I can get all worked up again.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will offer up two of those past grievances to Christ in prayer. I’ll bring up two specific instances, and I will turn them over to Him. I will set myself and a couple other people free.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, first of all, thank you for forgiving me. If you held my sin against me, I would be left so far away from you, I’d have no hope at all. As I remember these two incidents, please forgive me for holding on to them, and take them away. I’ve been acting stupid over them for far too long. As I move into this day, give me a forgiving spirit so I don’t hold on to anything new. Thank you.