DEVOTION – DAY 549

Colossians 3:13 “Forgive One Another”

Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any one of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

In Colossians 3, the apostle Paul reminded us that we are God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved by God. We are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (v12). In so doing, we are to bear with each other. Even though we may be culturally different, different in character and temperament, we must bear with each other and work alongside each other. We are to forgive one another, to forgive as the Lord had forgiven us. 

Unforgiveness is destructive because it causes broken relationships between friends and family members. Unforgiveness also psychologically affects the person because he or she harbors anger, hurt, resentment and bitterness against others over perceived wrongs, real or imagined. All this is unworthy of God’s chosen people. Thus, Col.3:13 reminds us to forgive others because God has already forgiven us. Who are we to withhold forgiveness to others, when we have received God’s forgiveness for our sins. We are not perfect and we are sinful, yet God had forgiven us. Other people are also not perfect. So, we must forgive them too. 

I know someone who was involved in an argument with her sister-in-law. Her brother stepped in to try to intervene. In the process, he was also drawn into the heated argument. He lost control of his temper and slapped her sister as he sided with his wife. Her sister was shocked and felt so hurt that after 12 years, she still refuses to speak to him. She has decided that she no longer recognizes him as her brother. Her brother has softened his stand but he continues to refuse to apologize for his actions. Thus, these two siblings’ relationship remain broken. 

We know of another former member who refused to acknowledge us or even talk to us over a perceived hurt. We continue to show her patience, kindness and love. We continue to greet her whenever we see her but she refuses to look us in the eye and avoid us. We are praying for her to forgive us for whatever she thinks we have done, just as we have long forgiven her for her actions. To this day, we are unsure why she is behaving in this way. Unforgiveness, if it is not dealt with will ultimately hurt her.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for forgiving us whilst we were still sinners. Please help us to show humility, love, kindness, patience and gentleness to others, forgiving those who have wronged us. We pray this in the great name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Why is it so difficult for people to forgive one another for perceived wrongs, real or imagined? Discuss.
  2. Why is it important for Christians to forgive others, even to the extent of apologizing for something they may not have done in order to make peace? Discuss.
  3. How have you forgiven someone who had hurt or wronged you? Share.
  4. How has God forgiven you? Share.