“Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, 
just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
~~Ephesians 4:32~~

I’m in the process of studying the character of God, and this morning one of the verses I dug into was Ephesians 4:32.  What impacted me from this verse was the call for me to be forgiving to others as Christ has been forgiving toward me.  As usual, I began with the definition of terms.

The word “forgiving” (charizomai) from Ephesians 4:32 is in the participle mood (this mood denotes a perpetual doing. I like to call it an “-ing” word because you keep on do-ING the action).  Anyway, “forgiving” in this passage means to grant as favor gratuitously; to frankly forgive, to freely forgive. I was prompted to look up the words “frankly” and “freely”, and after I did, I understood why the Spirit led me in that direction.  I was impacted by the character of our Abba, as well as convicted in how poorly I reflect His character.  Check these definitions out.

Webster defines FRANKLY as free, forthright and sincere expression; unmistakably evident. The first thing that pricked my conscience was the word sincere (not hiding under a false appearance).  How often do I say I have forgiven someone, and when I’m around them, outwardly I give the appearance that I truly have forgiven but inwardly is a different story.  I am holding on to the offense.  And then don’t get me started with the unmistakably evident.  If I say I have forgiven someone and still tend to grimace at the mention of their name, or if I say I have forgiven someone and treat them as if there is a distance between us, have I truly forgiven as God forgives me?  This makes me wonder if I have truly even forgiven anyone!  Man, am I convicted right now. 

The word FREELY is defined as, of one’s own accord, (We don’t deserve it. God doesn’t owe it to us. This snags me often when I consider if “I” think the person “deserves” forgiveness when God doesn’t owe ME forgiveness, and I certainly don’t deserve it on my own merit, yet He freely gives it); freedom from external control, (No one makes God do anything. Forgiving is part of who He is. With His Spirit living within me, it should be a part of who I am as well); without restraint or reservation (Convicted again, another’s behavior often affects my “forgiveness”); without hindrance (Hebrews 12:1, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  And to think that what hinders me most is ME.  That’s certainly an ouch.)

As I pause to ponder all of this, I find myself praising God with a heart full of gratitude this morning. His forgiveness is amazing. HE is amazing! I, on the other hand, have some changing to do.  

Oh Lord, do a work in my heart and mind so that I will be able forgive others as You have forgiven me. I desire to see no situation and no person from a human point of view, but rather a spiritual one. As Your Spirit teaches me this morning, I am seeing right now how much “compassion” factors into “forgiveness”. If I don’t see the actual spiritual condition of a person, I will not be moved to compassion, meeting needs, forgiving others. Another thing Lord I have to confess is that the lack of compassion and forgiving in my heart is hugely due to pride, as I compare myself to the “bad” behavior of another and then judge them as to whether or not “I” think they deserve forgiveness. I’m so sorry. Please help me to love like You do, to have active compassion like You do, to forgive like You do. Help me not to keep a record of wrongs, which so often makes it hard for me to forgive others.  I love You and thank You for the growing pains I have experienced this morning.