Love and forgiveness

https://odb.org/2024/08/14/generous-love

Colossians 3:13-14:

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

I like the phrase used in today’s ODB that love is not an accessory in a believer’s wardrobe but the main piece. This is because God is love, and we can’t love God if we do not have love. Love thus forms the essence of who we are in Christ. As believers; we love God, we love one another, and we love our neighbours as we love ourselves. From our love, other virtues like grace and mercy, compassion, and kindness flow, and one of the significant virtues we should have and that we need to continuously work on is forgiveness. Forgiveness flows from love because it is only with genuine love that we may truly and sincerely forgive those who have harmed or hurt us.

Forgiveness is also necessary because unforgiveness may lead to bitterness, and bitterness may, in turn, lead to resentment, and the latter, as demonstrated in the case of Cain and Abel, may lead to terrible sin. Unforgiveness also separates us from God. Since God forgave us on the account of the blood of Christ while we were yet sinners, we must likewise forgive those who had harmed or hurt us. Or as expressed in the Lord’s prayer, those who had trespassed against us as we seek God’s forgiveness for our own trespasses.

As much as love and forgiveness are fundamental cores to our Christian belief and faith, it is easier said than actually done. Many of us who had gone through the 70s and 80s as youths had to endure institutional discrimination that, to many of us, had life-changing consequences. Many had to make do with whatever courses that were offered to us, and some, because of financial constraints, did not pursue tertiary education. We are now well into our 50s and 60s, and I’m sure we still think about what could have been if we were given equal opportunities back then? Are we still angry? Do we still harbour resentment against the government? Are we able to see beyond our past and see the goodness of God in our lives and thus forgive and move on?

At a more personal level, we might have gone through personal disappointments and heartbreaks and much sadness. It is time to truly let go and let the past be the past and remain in the past! Focus on our journey ahead, don’t look back, and let the Holy Spirit guide and lead us as we gaze heavenward to God in Christ Jesus!