FORGIVING HEARTS, HEALING & HEALTH (1)

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, FROM HIS HEART, does not FORGIVE his brother his trespasses” – Matthew 18:35

FORGIVING HEARTS are assured of HEALING, HEALTH, and Deliverance from Torturers: “And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he would pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, FROM HIS HEART, does not FORGIVE his brother his trespasses” (Mt.18:34-35). The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant tells of a servant whose massive debt was forgiven by the king, but who refused to forgive a smaller debt owed to him, and was tortured for it. The implication is that it’s important to forgive others as we are forgiven by God. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught on how we should treat others who have wronged us. As the parable closed, He made it clear that forgiveness is fundamentally an issue of the HEART. Forgiveness begins inside.

The FORGIVEN Heart transforms into the FORGIVING Heart. The heart of a healthy forgiver is fully aware of how offensive we’ve been to God and how He has graciously forgiven us. It’s a heart that feels the pain others have inflicted on us, but also recognises and admits that we have hurt others too. The forgiving heart refuses to look for excuses in the behaviour of others, as if they don’t need to be forgiven – especially if they show no remorse or repentance for their actions. The forgiving heart takes a stance that’s always ready to offer forgiveness, and never withdrawing it. This may seem hard in the natural, but those who have been washed in God’s forgiveness through Christ can develop the habits of the forgiving heart. God gives us His forgiving Spirit so that we can forgive just as He has forgiven us!

The Bible provides ample information on the import of forgiveness. Several scriptures instruct us to forgive those who have offended us:

“And FORGIVE US our debts, as WE FORGIVE our debtors…For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Mt. 6:12, 14-15).

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, FORGIVE HIM, that your Father in heaven may also FORGIVE you your trespasses” (Mk.11:25).

“Bearing with one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as CHRIST FORGAVE you, so you also must do” (Col.3:13).

We are to model our forgiveness of others on how God has forgiven us; “not seven times, but seventy seven times” (Mt.18:21-22). Having been forgiven in Christ, we’re empowered with grace to forgive others without struggle, and thereby enjoy greater peace and well-being: “And be kind to one another, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph.4:32).

More significantly, there is a strong link between forgiveness, chronic stress, anxiety, and health – especially from the perspective of how an unforgiving attitude can have impact on one’s health. Research has demonstrated the health implications of not forgiving others. Studies suggest that holding on to grudges is injurious to the immune system; whereas the ability to forgive helps to heal and to thrive in health. Forgiveness or refusal to forgive can mark the difference between a thrilling life and a tortured life! Forgiveness enhances health.

The bottom line is: God designed us in a way that we should not hold onto grudges and bitterness towards others. When we do so, we pay a price – not only in our emotional and spiritual health but in our physical health. God would have us search our hearts and let Him reveal to us if there is any tendency to not forgive or to harbour bitterness tucked away deep inside. If there is, we must confess this sin and extend forgiveness to whoever is associated with that pain and hurt. The alternative would be to remain under the affliction of tormentors, which may include sicknesses and diseases! Jesus paid a high price so we can be forgiven by God. We owe it to God to forgive others!