Recently, I watched a short PragerU video by Dennis Prager in which he said that our greatest need today is gratitude. It’s hard to disagree, because there is no doubt that ingratitude causes a myriad of calamity in our own lives as well as in society at large. However, I personally do not follow Dennis Prager because he refuses to believe in Christ.
Our greatest need before God is not an expression of His gratitude for us. Rather, we must express gratitude to God. For what are we grateful? Chief among the blessings in our gratitude must be forgiveness. Through Christ, God has forgiven our sin, and through faith, we are made acceptable in His sight. Praise the Lord!!
Forgiveness, then, is our most critical need. It is no surprise, then, that forgiveness is an oft-repeated command throughout Scripture. If we forgive, we will in turn have no trouble expressing gratitude, which is why forgiveness is of such greater importance. The more we grasp the gravity of our own guilt, the more we appreciate just how much has been forgiven.
In our personal relationships, we will encounter hurt feelings, mis-spoken words, careless acts, overlooked needs, and a host of other reasons why bitterness, hard feelings, and grudges may arise. Forgiveness is the grease among us which permits society and community to function well. Forgiveness is also what makes us right before God and lays the foundation for us to grow into the person God created us to be. Through forgiveness, we can live in holiness, Christian perfection, and love.
In Christ, our transgressions before God have been forgiven. Colossians 2:13 Through forgiveness, we are made alive in Christ, and we are part of Christ’s kingdom. Through this forgiveness, our sins have been covered. Romans 4:7 Once covered, our sins are never again exposed to condemn us.
Christ also instructs us that we will appreciate our forgiveness based on what we understand has been forgiven. In Luke 7:41-48, Christ speaks about the heart of the Pharisee compared to the heart of the sinful woman. The woman understood the extent of her sin, and she in turn expressed her gratitude for the guilt and stains of the sin having been removed. The Pharisee, on the other hand, as a self-righteous individual, did not see himself in need of the Savior. Therefore, he did not appreciate the presence of Christ.
As we have received forgiveness, we are to also forgive others. Ephesians 4:32, Luke 6:37-38 Christ directly links His forgiveness of us with our forgiveness of others. Matthew 6:14, Mark 11:25
Our forgiveness of others is to be a significant part of our lives on this earth. People will do us wrong, inflict hurt, and cause us trouble. Christ compels us to adopt a forgiving attitude. In Matthew 18:21-35, Christ instructs us to offer forgiveness to one individual 490 times. That is to say, never cease forgiving, and always adopt a forgiving spirit.
By this, Christ is showing us what the kingdom of heaven is like. It is like unto its inhabitants continuously offering forgiveness to each other, granting each other grace, and always extending mercy.
Gratitude is undoubtedly important. However, the bitterness and resentment which are often allowed to set into our hearts because of unforgiveness will destroy us far more quickly and cause far more devastation than ingratitude. It is, therefore, why James says the healing we need in our lives comes through forgiveness.
The hurts, trouble, and wrongs caused by other people create a need within us for healing. We do not need healing if there is never any hurt, unforgiveness, ingratitude, or bitterness. But in a fallen world, the natural tendency is to withhold forgiveness when we are wronged. The wrongs caused against us require healing, and on top of that, our unforgiveness in response only widens the breach.
We cannot overestimate the devastating effects on our emotional health which unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment cause. In turn, these negative effects also break down our spiritual relationship with God. In James 5:15-16, we read, “The prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
Can you really pray for another person if you are harboring unforgiveness against that person? And if you are harboring bitterness and resentment, is that not a sin? We are to confess our sins and pray for each other, and thereby, we will be engaged in forgiving others. This is the only path to the true healing we so desperately need.
Do you want to be made whole? Forgive those who have wronged you and caused hurt in your life, and seek forgiveness from Christ for your own wrongs before God.
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