[228 words]
Henry Ward Beecher once said, “I can forgive, but I cannot forget.” Isn’t it wonderful that God both forgives and forgets when he forgives our sins? Hebrews 10:17 says of God, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” God expects us to do the same when it comes to forgiving others. Jesus Christ once taught, “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).
Yet too many of us feel like Beecher does, that we can forgive, but we cannot forget. How can we learn to forgive and forget? Philosopher Alexander Dejong gives the following wise advice: “To forgive someone involves three things. First, it means to forego the right of striking back. One rejects the urge to repay gossip with gossip and a bad turn with a worse turn. Second, it means replacing the feeling of resentment and anger with good will, a love which seeks the other’s welfare, not harm. Third, it means the forgiving person takes concrete steps to restore good relations.”
To truly forgive is a very hard thing to do. But since our salvation depends on being a forgiving person, let us strive to be as merciful as we can be to others.
Travis L. Quertermous
Dexter Church of Christ
Dexter, MO