“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13 NLT).
Paul told the believers in Colossae to put off their old ways of thinking and behaving and to put on their new life in Christ. He spoke of these old and new ways as if they were articles of clothing. Among the new articles of spiritual clothing that believers received was forgiveness. Since they had received forgiveness from the Lord, they were to put it on and forgive others, just as the Lord had forgiven them.
Now as believers, we are able to put on the forgiveness of Christ, drawing on His mercy and grace to forgive. We put off hatred and revenge and put on love and forgiveness. No longer seeing ourselves as offended victims, but forgiven vessels, charged with God’s ministry of reconciliation. We are able to always forgive because we have been forgiven of all things. According to this new identity in Christ, we are able to forgive just as the Lord has forgiven us.
Where in your mind’s closet are you harboring the filthy clothing of unforgiveness? Towards whom are you hanging on to an offense? Put off your old resentments and put on God’s forgiveness today.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so thankful that You have forgiven us according to Your love and mercy. Because of Your great love, You have not only forgiven us, You have adopted us into Your family by Your grace. Now, we have been given the mind of Christ, so we are able to forgive others just as You have forgiven us. Help us to draw on Your love and forgiveness this day and to carry out Your ministry of reconciliation in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.