Forgiveness and Love

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I Corinthians 13:1-7
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At first glance, today's reading is about love. But when you read behind the lines, it is as much about forgiveness as it is about love. For love and forgiveness are so closely woven together, you cannot have one without the other! And there is more. The Bible tells us that there is good reason to forgive, as God forgives us as we forgive others. Do you want God's forgiveness in your life? Then you must find a way to forgive others!

In our humanness, we are virtually incapable of forgiving everyone we need to, but we are compelled to try as we strive to follow Jesus' mandate to love one another. Truth is that sometimes we feel that people hurt our feelings, anger us, frustrate us, overwhelm us. The list goes on and on. But we must forgive them anyway. They may yell at you, avoid you, abandon you, slander you, steal from you, and/or hurt you in a myriad of ways...But you still must forgive them.

I know my own limits for forgiveness, and there are times when I need God's help to heal and forgive. And He has never disappointed me when I ask for His help.

So go on... Is there someone you have yet to forgive? Do it now, with God's help, without delay and then step back watch the blessings flow!