Putting On Forgiveness

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive." - Colossians 3:12-13

Do you realize that you are a chosen one of God? Did you know that you are holy and beloved by the God of all creation? Seems hard to believe doesn't it? The truth is we must believe this, we must know that we are chosen, holy, and beloved. The reason we must know this is so we can act in accordance to what we are. Everything that Paul lists in this passage are characteristics that flow out of us when we are believing the truth about who we already are in Christ. The problem is when we forget or start listening to the world's perception of who we are and not God's truth. Many times we create labels about ourselves that hide the truth about what God has already said about us. One thing that is hard for many of us to believe is that our mistakes can't label us forever, we are forgiven and free in Christ Jesus.

Of the list that Paul lays out Forgiveness in my experience seems to be the hardest for many people. We tend to have a hard time forgiving ourselves as well as forgiving others. Is it hard for you to forgive? If the answer is "yes" have you then asked yourself "why?" How often do you think about the cross? Are you constantly reminded or do you feel the weight of forgiveness that Jesus Christ gave to us? Or do you have a sense of entitlement? America has taught many of us that we deserve to be treated a certain way, that we have rights, and that we have the right to justice. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if we really want a right to justice that means we all deserve to go to Hell. If it would not be for the grace of God shown through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2). When we truly feel the weight of the grace and mercy of God and that we are chosen, holy, and beloved already forgiveness becomes part of our nature. We actually look forward to suffering and showing grace to others because that is what Christ did for us. Many times we want mercy but don't want to give mercy.

My challenge for you today is to put on forgiveness. I learned a few years back to stop saying "I'm sorry." That is not a Biblical response to a sin you commit against someone. A Biblical response is to admit the sin, repent and ask for forgiveness. It is more difficult to ask for forgiveness than to say your sorry. Asking for forgiveness vs. saying your sorry may be more difficult for you but it will build Godly character and strengthen relationships. Today remember the one who forgave you and then put on forgiveness.