Daily Devotional – Thursday, February 6, 2025
…bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)
Paul exhorts us to emulate Christ’s forgiveness and love in today’s key text. According to the apostle, forgiving others entails adopting a continuous attitude that we need to develop in our relationships rather than a one-time act. The same way Jesus tolerates our frailty and sin, bearing with someone is deciding to accept the flaws of others with grace.
Forgive One Another
The apostle also exhorts us to actively forgive transgressions. It is difficult to forgive, particularly after experiencing severe hurt, but we must forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. Christ pardoned us out of love for us, not because we earned it. He asked us to show the same unwavering forgiveness that He showed us to those who wronged us.
We often struggle with forgiveness, harboring resentments or wounds that only get worse with time. However, what occurs if we extend forgiveness like Christ did? We break free from the bonds of hatred and hate. We make room for reconciliation and healing. Most significantly, we show the world the heart of Christ.
Why You Must Forgive Others
Think about your life for a moment. Do you have someone you need to forgive? Maybe you have been harboring resentment toward someone who has let you down or injured you. Choose to pardon them the same way Jesus forgives you, letting go of that transgression in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, please help me to bear with others in love and grace and to extend forgiveness to those who have hurt me, the same way You forgive me.
