exbii house wife photos12yo daughter letitbit While many people, even people who consider themselves Christians, choose to react to hurts by holding a grudge, the better way of love tells us not to react, but to respond out of the forgiveness that was first given to us by Jesus Christ, who when we were sinners died for us on the cross.  Forgiveness is a response.  Forgiveness is also a release.  Stormie Omartian said, “Forgiveness doesn’t make the other person right, it makes you free.”  When we respond in forgiveness we will know the release that comes from being free from burdens and bondages of the past.  Forgiveness reveals the nature and character of Christ in us.

Years ago, the wife of a Zulu chief attended a Salvation Army meeting and was saved. When her husband heard about it, he forbade her to ever go to church again. However, eager to hear more about Jesus, she went to church at the first opportunity. When her husband heard about it, he met her on her return trip and beat her savagely and left her for dead. Overcome by curiosity, he later went back and found her not far from where he had beaten her, lying under a bush. Covering her with cruel eyes he stared, and with a sneer in his voice he asked, “And what can your Jesus Christ do for you now?” She opened her eyes, and looking at him, said gently, “He helps me to forgive you!”  

Remember, the last act of Jesus toward man while he was hanging on the cross was to say “Father forgive…”  Forgiveness shows the character of Christ.