Can You Ever Forget? 6/20/2022

 Good Morning,

Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee filled my mug this fine day and it is time to write. I want to spend some time this week on forgiving. 

The phrase “forgive and forget” is not found in the Bible. However, there are numerous verses commanding us to “forgive one another” (e.g., Matthew 6:14 and Ephesians 4:32). A Christian who is not willing to forgive others will find his fellowship with God hindered (Matthew 6:15) and can reap bitterness and the loss of reward (Hebrews 12:14–15; 2 John 1:8).  Credit    Got Questions,

 Being unable to forgive is often a stumbling block to Christians and it holds them back in many ways in life. God clearly commands us to forgive one another. People often say that we are to forget the trespasses  committed against us as well as forgiving those who committed the trespass. They will often quote Hebrews 8:12 and advise others that we are to forget trespasses as God does. 

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12

This is something that in all reality only God can do. An all powerful, and all knowing God will know that we have committed sins and fall short of His glory. When a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior heaven is theirs and they enter in as if they never sinned. Jesus has paid that price. 

In forgetting a trespass a person might think they can trust the offender again and put themselves in a place to have the offender harm them again. Our memory of the offence should keep us away from having it happen to us again. 

Now if someone were to tell me that they are forgiving their offender and are trying to move on, I can accept that and it is Scriptural. 

Philippians 3:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

We need to remember that only God is in the business of purifying hearts and until full repentance takes place within the heart of the offender, one runs the risk of being hurt again. The prudent see danger and avoid it. Being cautious does not mean we haven't forgiven. It simply means we are not God and cannot see into the hearts of men. 

Food for thought!

Marty