Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. — Ephesians 4:32
In the book of Ephesians we learn who we are in Christ and what difference that makes in our daily lives.
One of the amazing differences that our identity in Christ makes is this: We are enabled to forgive.
Let me explain. I’m not a rich guy. By American standards, I’m at the other end of the spectrum. Thankfully, I am able to work and earn enough money to survive. But suppose I wasn’t able to work. And suppose, by some incredible chance, one of you owed me $100,000, and I was relying on your payment of $1000 a month to sustain my family. Then you came up to me and said, "You know that $100,000 I owe you? So sorry, can’t pay it."
Where would that leave me?
That would leave me in a very difficult position. I can take you to court and demand you pay the money, or I can forgive the debt. But I cannot forgive the debt, because I’m not able to sustain that kind of a loss.
But suppose Bill Gates comes along and adopts me. After the adoption is final, he says to me, "Dwight, my money is your money. You have access to my bank accounts — use what you need any time you need it."
Now, let’s look at the $100,000 debt. How hard is it now for me to forgive? It isn’t hard at all. In fact, it’s a piece of cake.
Same way with God. We have been adopted. God’s grace becomes ours. Before we were destitute, and when someone sinned against us, we could not forgive because we didn’t have the internal wealth to sustain the loss. But now, the wealth of Jesus is overflowing in our hearts. This usually takes an encounter with Jesus to settle this deep in our hearts (or maybe several encounters), but once we understand it fully, forgiving from our hearts is possible, and something we can do with joy.
What makes forgiving difficult? It isn’t the magnitude of the offense as much as it is our own inability to comprehend the access we have to the wealth of God. But Jesus is here, and He is ready to open our eyes.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.