Reasons to forgive found in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 “To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

• “To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also” – Forgive because others have also already reconciled the situation.

• “for your sakes forgave I” – Be selfless and forgive for the sake of others.

• “forgave I it in the person of Christ” – We should forgive others as if we were standing in the presence of Christ. We, both the offended and offender, are forgiven in the person of Christ. We have no reason to hold offenses against others for Christ holds no offense against his own. It would be unthinkable to withhold forgiveness while standing in the presence of our own sin bearer. Furthermore, forgiveness does not mean that all pain is immediately taken away. Some one will have to absorb the pain. So what do we do with the pain? Instead of letting it torture you, or punishing someone else with your pain, let the sufficient sacrifice of Christ absorb it. Leave it at the foot of the cross. See also Ephesians 4:32.

• “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” – By forgiving one another we avoid being ensnared by Satan. Do not be ignorant of how he works. Forgive and take shelter in the shadow of the cross.

Originally published February 2017