The Hardest King of Forgiveness

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

The most difficult kind of forgiveness. The hardest person to forgive is the person who admits no fault, refuses to apologize. Forgiveness is clearly commanded by our Lord, regardless of the circumstances. But how do I forgive someone who is not sorry?

Four Considerations:
#1 – Consider if they’ve really sinned. Just because you’re hurt doesn’t mean they have sinned. Psalm 141:5 says “let a righteous man strike me, it is a kindness. Let him rebuke me, it is oil for my head.”

#2 – Consider God’s forgiveness in your life. I talked earlier about perspective. Think about how many times God has forgiven you just today. There’s a line from one of our Resonate songs that says “If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.” Here I am sinking in an ocean of God’s grace – shall I offer a cup of that water to another? God has forgiven me more than I could ever forgive other people – He is infinitely forgiving.

#3 – Consider whether to tell them. Sometimes, saying, “I forgive you” simply inflames the situation. Often, it’s best to forgive them from your heart and just return to loving them. Cancel the debt. If down the road the person comes to you with an apology, instead of a debt paid, it’s a bonus you didn’t expect.

#4 – Consider the Examples in Scripture. Jesus, Stephen, David, Joseph, Moses… the list goes on.

William Arthur Ward said, “We are most like beasts when we kill, we are most like men when we judge, we are most like God when we forgive.”