Forgiveness or Bitterness?

Romans 5:5 “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

A young lady I know in Burundi watched her mother and father hacked to death right in front of her. From that day on, and for the next seven years, she simply stopped growing. Then, at the age of 12, she read Jesus’ words above. However painful it was, she chose to forgive the undeserving murderers of her parents. As soon as she did this, an extraordinary thing happened: she started growing again – literally, physically, as well as emotionally and spiritually! That is the power of forgiveness.

During the war, my friend Sarah rushed home to find her husband and three children murdered. She fled to the Congo with her remaining three kids but was stopped by a group of militia. She declared boldly: “I’m not afraid to die because I know I’ll go straight to be with Jesus.” One of them spat back: “God is dead!” She prayed silently: “Lord, I don’t want to die if you’re dead so please show me you’re alive.” He stripped her to rape her but found her money hidden in her bra, so he ran off with the others, and she was able to flee to safety. After the war, she heard that rapist and murderer was in prison. She went to see him and said: “You told me God was dead. I’m here to tell you he’s alive, he loves you, and he’s told me to do the same, so I love you!”

Forgiveness or bitterness?

They may not deserve forgiveness, but if you hold on to bitterness, you’re doubly the victim. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you,” wrote Lewis Smedes.

Most of us have got either someone we need to forgive, or someone we need to ask for forgiveness of. Let’s set some prisoners free!

Our Father, forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Amen!