Forgiveness and forbearance

Read Colossians 3:13

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults,and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember,the Lord forgave you,so you must forgive others. (NLT)

Human beings are all slightly ‘wacky’. We do silly things,say odd things. We have irritating habits. All of which means we need to forbear one another,make allowance for one another. Develop some sort of gracious tolerance of one another.

But there are times when we go beyond mere irritation. We wound,we hurt,we attack. This means we need to forgive each other. When someone talks too much we need to forbear them. When someone maliciously gossips about us we need to forgive them. We may forbear a loudmouth but forgive a bully. Always aware that forgiving is not excusing or condoning the conduct,but rather a determination not to hit back in the same way.

Forgiveness is for the deep,personal and unfair hurts we experience. We dare not embark on the challenging process of forgiveness over minor matters. Sometimes,when faced with the obvious imperfections of others,we simply need some grace and a sense of humour. And a realisation that I too may get on others’ nerves.

We need much wisdom to know when to shrug off a minor offence and when to forgive something more major. We don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill,but then again,we don’t want to make a molehill out of a mountain.

Blessings
David Reay