Engage Digital Bulletin

Why do we find it hard to forgive?

• I am too hurt

• She/he hasn’t suffered enough

• I can’t ignore what happened

• I’m not going back to the way things were

What forgiveness really does:

• Plants you in the past

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. - Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

• Poisons your relationships

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. - Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

• Pulls Satan near

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. - Ephesians 4:26–27 (NIV)

• Pushes God away

When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” - Mark 11:25 (NIV)

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” - John 8:3-6 (NIV)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” - John 8:6–7 (NIV)

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. - John 8:9 (NIV)

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” - John 8:10–11 (NIV)

When we choose forgiveness, Jesus becomes our shield

Forgiveness is not based on what they will do, but upon what Jesus already has done

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