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Deleting Records of Wrongs

Every day we store up experiences for future recall—hopefully for our joy. But sometimes bad things happen that have a permanent impact in our lives. Sometimes disabilities occur as a result of someone else’s poor choices. A drunk driver may walk away from a car crash while leaving a passenger permanently affected by a physical or mental impairment. A person can bring great harm to others as a result of careless or selfish actions. How can we even begin to think about forgiving such wrongs?

Forgiveness involves the intentional letting go of the grievous acts and sins of others. You choose to not remember the faults of others. Psalm 103:8-12 demonstrates God’s intentional forgiveness. “He will not constantly accuse us” (though he would be entitled to do so), and “he has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” This is an eternal distance; the two horizons never meet. God willfully removes our sins from his sight and remembers them no more! How can we practice such forgiveness? Only the love given to us by the Holy Spirit can transform our hearts sufficiently to keep “no record of being wronged” (1 Corinthians 13:5). This kind of forgiveness is wrought by God’s grace in our hearts and is motivated by true love for others.

It is very difficult to forgive others when we constantly have only our own suffering and difficulties in focus. Consider, instead, how God dealt with offenses: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s love for us caused him to sacrifice his Son to provide forgiveness for our sins. Are we supposed to forgive like that? Yes! But not in our own strength! We will naturally remember events from our lives. Some things we can never literally “forget.” But are we keeping a “record” of the wrongs of others? Are we recalling or reliving the negative details every time we see the person?

Godly forgiveness does not erase our memories, but it does allow us to erase the record of wrongs and to live in restored relationships. With time, and by God’s Spirit, we will find that love has replaced our negative thoughts about, and feelings toward, those who have hurt us.

This devotional reading plan is from the Beyond Suffering Bible published by Tyndale House Publishers in partnership with Joni and Friends. Discover More.