The Watts Clan: Unforgiveness

Its a condition of the heart.

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.~ 1 Peter 4:8, NLT

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.~ Ephesians 4:32

God commands us to love our neighbors and even our enemies. Love is greater than faith. Love is greater than hope. Love bears all things (1 Cor. 13:7). Unforgiveness is proof of a lack of genuine love in your heart; and the problem with the sin of unforgiveness is that it is an on-going condition of a person's heart.

One sad thing about harboring the sin of unforgiveness in your heart is---you're the loser. Concerning now, the apostle Paul wrote that we should forgive "lest Satan should get an advantage of us" (2 Cor. 2:11). And concerning eternity, it will involve, at least, the loss of rewards.

Peter said, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive Him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven" (Mt. 18:21-22).

And Paul said, "Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32). "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye" (Col. 3:13).

Unforgiveness is a common sin today, even among true Christians. And it is a sin that is, in a sense, like the unpardonable sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because of what Jesus said: "If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Mt. 6:14-15).

Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. You may never feel like forgiving, so choose to forgive and God will give you the grace and mercy you need to change the condition of your heart. It may take practice and work but its worth it in the end, after all we want God to forgive us so we must first choose to forgive!