To Forgive is define as: to decide that you will not be angry with someone who has offended, upset, or harmed you.

You need to forgive:

1 Because God Wants You To

Repay no one evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble in the sight of everyone.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for (God’s) wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.

Romans 12:17, 19

Beloved God wants you to pay back evil with good, wrong with right and injustice with justice. For if you pay back evil with evil, you display an opposite nature of the Lord (the God of Mercy whose image you reflect); and as well give him no chance to avenge on your behalf.

2. Because You Can Only Obtain Mercy from God if You Do

Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.

Matthew 6:12

Matthew 18:21-35 The parable of the unforgiving servant

Verse 35 says: And this is how my Father in heaven will treat everyone of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

Brethren, God is a loving and merciful Father (Jonah 4:2, Exodus 34:6) but his forgiveness to you as a believer (born again Christian) is on the platform of “forgive to be forgiven”.

When you were still an unbeliever He paid a price for all your sins, and now that you have become a citizen of his kingdom, if He must forgive you again you must be willing to show the same mercy to others.

Read also: Dealing with unforgiveness

3. Because You Have the Spirit of God in You

So too the (Holy) Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness;…

Roman’s 8:26

Forgiveness is far beyond words of acceptance, it is something that must come from within. And unfortunately for us, the degree of pain we feel due to the harm caused to us is sometimes too great to bear. Just the thoughts of it breaks you. But the Almighty Father knew moments like this will eventually come, and it won’t be easy to go about it by ourselves; and so, He gave us the person of the Holy Spirit. Who is there to strengthen and comfort us beyond human understanding. And above all, gives us the supernatural ability to FORGIVE when we don’t feel as to.

4. Because You Expect Others to Forgive You Too

So then, what ever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

Sometimes we get so carried away by our anger against someone that has wronged us and forget that we had done if not the same but something (even more) hurtful to another and they forgave us. And in addition to this, there maybe someone somewhere still hurt because of us. More reasons you need to let go of someone’s wrong today so it may speak on your behalf when you equally wrong someone someday. They will forgive you so easily simply because you had paid the price of forgiving another in the past.

5. Because May Be, Just May Be They Didn’t Mean to Hurt/wrong You

You might be angry with someone that didn’t really mean to harm you. They are humans, and humans do make mistakes. Forgive them and let go. Let the past be the past and live the present. Free yourself from that cage of depression. Forgiveness is mostly more helpful to you and not for the person that wronged you. As a matter of fact, the person might have moved on and you have decided not to move on as well. Show them you can forgive even though they don’t deserve it.

Read also: Tormented Men

There are many other important reasons to forgive which I have not stated here, but I pray with the few points enumerated above, you will see reasons to let go. But above all, I pray God strengthens and empowers you to forgive in Jesus Name. AMEN!

God Loves You!

VCGW
(VIRTUE OF CHRIST’S GLORIOUS WORDS)
By Bechem Eyong