If You Know You Need Grace and Forgiveness, Here’s What You Should Do

Here’s a quick reminder: Jesus takes forgiveness really, really seriously. I used “really” twice there, but honestly could fill the page with “reallys” here and it wouldn’t be taking it too far. 

There’s nothing subtle about this: 

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”. – Matthew 6:14-15

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” – Mark 11:25-26

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.“ – Matthew 7:2

Think about that last one: Whatever measure I want to use on other people? That’s the measure that will be applied to me.

I’m not the smartest person in the world, but if I get to choose the standard applied to me, I’m going with “wildly forgiving.” I know how much I need forgiveness, so I’m going all-in on this. I’m going to pray for my enemies, bless people who curse me—the whole thing. I want to have a posture of forgiveness in life. 

So, you might ask, what if people are currently doing me wrong? What if they’re currently hurting me? What then?  

I think that’s a great question, and then I remember Jesus on the cross, looking out over the self-righteous people who were publicly shaming him while executing him, and I remember another shocking thing he said: 

“Father, forgive them…” 

 
I want to be like that. Does that sound radical? Of course it does. The world doesn’t operate this way.  

But then, we’re not of this world. 

— 

Brant Hansen’s latest book is called Living Unoffended and is available wherever books are sold.