Learn to Forgive
During one of our company’s recent management meetings, I shared some thoughts on forgiveness from a video devotional series that I have been watching. These online, high-octane sermons are delivered by a very lively and enthusiastic pastor, Michael Todd of the Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here’s a link to his website if you are interested in watching:
Today, we hear from Pastor Rick Warren, a nationally known Baptist minister and founder of the Saddleback Church in California.
Blessed to be a Blessing,
Greg Syfan,
President, Syfan Logistics
“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 19:11
The video series is very timely because it addresses our current negative environment of heightened political rhetoric that offends and upsets so many people. Pastor Todd says that taking offense and holding grudges is unhealthy, because it is the “gateway to unforgiveness.” It can harden our heart to the point that we no longer love – further distancing us from God.
In Matthew 18:21-22, the disciple Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone for sins against him – up to seven times? Jesus answers, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
The point of this parable is that we should not keep count of sins against us. Instead, we should forgive so often that we lose count.
I admit that forgiveness can be difficult to do. But we all need to understand that forgiveness is fundamental to our faith.
Forgiveness requires faith. Learn from Jesus’s advice to Peter and demonstrate your own faith by forgiving those who offend or hurt you. Walk by faith – not bad feelings.
I’ve just scratched the surface in sharing brief highlights from Pastor Todd’s “Forgiveness University” (FU) video series on How to Overcome Offense. Each lesson is about an hour long, but Todd’s animated style is entertaining and will hold your attention. I encourage you to watch and grow in faith.