Today’s 333 Devotional: “The Benefits of Forgiveness”

“I can’t forgive them.”

This is a common theme in most people’s lives. Someone has done something hurtful, and we can’t seem to forgive the offense.

But not forgiving is one of the worst things we can do, because it withholds God’s tremendous benefits that He wishes to pour out into our lives, beginning with forgiveness.

Further, forgiveness isn’t a matter of picking and choosing who or what we want to forgive. Instead, forgiveness is a way of life, and something to be offered to everyone no matter what.

So, it doesn’t matter who we might be holding resentment against, in the end it will eat us alive, along with those we love. The writer of Hebrews tells us not to fall short of God’s grace in this; otherwise, a root of bitterness will spring up in our lives, defiling not only ourselves, but also all those around us (Hebrews 12:15).

But when we offer forgiveness, it transforms our lives. It fills us with an abundance of joy and peace.

Consider the words of Jesus.

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:37-38)

Therefore, with the same measure we forgive others, shall be the same measure we’ll be forgiven, which is at the heart of what Jesus also tells us in the prayer He taught us to pray.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

No matter the offense, let’s choose to forgive and allow the beauty of God’s forgiveness to overwhelm our soul, bringing peace and joy without measure.