Precious And Honoured In His SightSample

Forgiveness is costly. Someone who knew this was Corrie Ten Boom, who was sent to a concentration camp during World War II, where her sister died after being starved and beaten. After the war, she encountered one of the concentration camp guards. He told her he had become a Christian, and stood before her pleading her forgiveness. Memories of the camp came flooding back, and in that moment, Ten Boom recalled, “I stood there – I whose sins had every day to be forgiven – and could not.” However, after praying for Jesus for help, she managed to raise her hand to shake the man’s, and at that moment, reflected that “this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart’.”

Corrie Ten Boom didn’t find forgiveness easy. But she was ultimately able to forgive because she knew the forgiveness that Jesus had already given to her. She knew she was chosen by God, dearly loved by him, and so was able to clothe herself with this same forgiveness and love. 

So, like Ten Boom, let’s ask for Jesus’ help to live lives characterised by this kind of forgiveness, compassion, gentleness, and love. 

Is there someone you need to forgive? How does the forgiveness and love Jesus has shown you help you to do this?