Forgiveness

I totally believe that every person who confesses to be in possession of a Christian heart struggles with one thing, in particular. This things is forgiveness. Or maybe it is just me that struggles with this. Either way, it is a particularly interesting subject to study. So lets look at what the Standard Works say.

In 2 Corinthians 2:1-11, Paul is writing to the people of Cornith for the second time. While his correspondence is filled with a ton of wonderful subject matter, he talks about forgiveness quite a bit! He counsels the people of Cornith that when any of them have "caused [one another] grief,"they are meant to forgive them and comfort them in their sorrows. The one thing that I thought of during this was how difficult it would be for me to comfort someone who has hurt me. Shouldn't I be the one being comforted? But then, I began thinking back to the times in my life where I have caused others grief, wouldn't it have been nice and humbling to be comforted by those I have hurt? It would had humbled me greatly. Being humble allows the Holy Spirit to work with in and teach us. I truly believe that a humble heart is a teachable heart.

Forgiveness is cleansing. For both parties involved. When we forgive others we are practicing Christ like attributes. How I have begun to look at this, is if Christ suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross for ME can forgive me, how can I not forgive someone who has not hurt me that greatly in comparison? In Matthew 6:14 the Lord Jesus Christ tells us, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." It sounds easier than it is. We have put asides our selfish desires for justice and understand that forgiveness gives freedom to the person forgiving, not just the person being forgiven.

What happens if we don't forgive? How many times in our lives have we withheld our forgiveness from others just because we have been hurt so deeply and desire some kind of justice? For me, way to often. Way, way to often. If we do no freely forgive others, the Lord will condemn us (Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-10). This is a pretty heavy statement against us. The Lord has already forgiven them, they just have to ask for it. This reminds of a scripture in the Doctirine and Covenants, 122: 8,"The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?"As I stated before, forgiveness gives freedom to both parties. If Christ can forgive us, why would we not forgive others?