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--DO NOT RATIONALIZE OR EXCUSE THE OFFENDER’S BEHAVIOR...FORGIVE IT!

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good,....

--CHOOSE TO FORGIVE

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

FORGIVENESS IS GIVING UP RESENTMENT.

--Genesis 50:15-21 and verse 19-20

Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Genesis 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Remember that forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentment.  Also remember that the decision to forgive is never to be based on whether or not the offender DESERVES TO BE FORGIVEN.  No one DESERVES to be forgiven

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

--Remember that resentment feeds anger and keeps our healing from being complete. It impairs our understanding and judgement, undermines the healing of our hearts, our lives. Proverbs 18:12-14, 19

Pro 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Pro 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

--The Lord Jesus let go of His rights.  Philippians 2:4-7

Phi 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

FORGIVENESS SETS A PRISONER FREE.

--Who is really the prisoner?

"When you release the wrong doer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life.  You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself."  --Lewis Smedes

--Forgiveness releases both the offender and offended.

FORGIVENESS IS AN ACT OF GRACE.

--Define forgiveness as an act of grace, unmerited love.

[Grace is God’s bestowing on us what we do not deserve.  Mercy is withholding from me penalties and judgments I do deserve.]

View forgiveness  from that perspective.  We can’t work for it.  We can’t jump through the right hoops to earn it.  We can’t perfect our performance so that we deserve it.

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