CHARACTER OF A LEADER PART 2.
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
“We are most like beasts when we kill. Most like men when we judge and condemn. Most like God when we forgive.”
I believe it’s nothing short of a miracle when a person manages to forgive. It is truly an attribute to God.
True forgiveness means you forgive and forget, and that is the character of God
Forgiveness and Restoration.
2Cor 2:5-10
vs 5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. Vs 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Vs 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Vs 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Vs 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Vs 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, vs 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
To forgive is to act in obedience to God’s will.
Christian forgiveness is far more than accepting an apology. It is putting away vengeful feelings. True forgiveness means not to require or finding satisfaction in seeing someone grovel in remorse and contrition. True forgiveness means finding a means of ending the estrangement and restoring fellowship.
There is no forgiveness without genuine acceptance of the other person as they are...it is joy to accept forgiveness, but it is almost greater joy to give forgiveness.
The power of forgiveness is manifested more when, after we experience God’s marvelous forgiveness in our own lives, we exercise it to others.
Case study
Joseph- Gen 45:4-7, 50:20.. Joseph was mistreated, misunderstood and betrayed. He had every right to be bitter, angry, and resentful. Nevertheless, he responded to his adversity with a positive attitude. He saw God in the situation. Gen 45: 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Gen 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
My prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness toward me! Help me to extend the same measure of Grace to others. Thank you for the ability to forgive that you have put in me through the LORD Jesus Christ. Now help me to exercise it. Help me to become a forgiver and a fragrance of life to others in Jesus name.
May the LORD make me instruments of peace and harmony in my relationships.
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