Someone told me one time that forgiveness is about oneself and not about the person being forgiven. I have never forgiven anyone and regretted it. I have gone for long periods of time harboring resentment about some injustice, perceived or otherwise and it has weighed heavy on my mind and has prevented me from achieving the peace, joy and freedom that comes from offering forgiveness with no strings attached. Personally I think that no truer words have ever been spoken than the first sentence of this paragraph and it is worth re-reading and memorizing. It seems almost paradoxical, but nonetheless it is true.
The world is often backwards in its thinking. God in His infinite wisdom has thousands and thousands of words of advice for His beloved children just waiting for us to read in His holy Bible. (So get to reading it this coming year.) Did you know that the Bible tells us that it is more blessed to give than receive? Most everyone likes to receive gifts, but what about giving them? Christians have heard or read about it being more blessed to give than receive, but it is altogether different to experience it. Just watch the faces light up in a few days when the gifts start circulating and feel the joy. This sage advice is not just for the Christmas season however, we can enjoy the joy all year long and it is just as rewarding. Give often and sacrificially.
Jesus is the perfect example of how we should live our lives. His gift was the ultimate. He tells us in the Bible that there is no greater gift than laying down one’s life for someone and that is exactly what he did for the world. Through this tender-hearted act of compassion He forgave us our sins. Like Jesus, we should give from our hearts; forgive from our hearts.
I believe with all my heart that Jesus receives tremendous joy whenever someone accepts His sacrificial gift of love and thereby He also experiences the joy that He tell us about. Now when you think about what we might give to Him for His Christmas present, one just might think that leading someone to Christ just might be the ultimate “stocking stuffer”. Do you know anyone who is lost today? Of course you do. Why not make an attempt during this holiday season to lead them to the cross and give them and Jesus the gift of joy?
Eph. 4:32
And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another
even as God in Christ forgave
you.