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(presented by Lisa Bishop)
Is your life a witness of forgiveness?
When someone lies about you, a friend or family member betrays you, or a coworker speaks harsh or dismissive words, do you extend grace and work to forgive, or are you prone to hold onto a grudge?
1 John 2:9-10 says,
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
These verses are speaking specifically to and about our relationship with fellow believers. But the call to love and live in the light of Jesus applies to every relationship and interaction we have. The Apostle John is teaching that you cannot say you love Jesus and live in his power when you are harboring hatred. You may be saying, “I don’t hate anyone.” Hate is a strong word, but let’s not get hung up on that because John is juxtaposing hate with the ultimate command to love. Anything other than love, even the slightest dislike for someone can have us walking in darkness. Along with hatred, comes some form of unforgiveness, which is a stumbling block. You cannot walk in the light and hate at the same time, and hate has a way of ruling our lives.
The power of the Gospel rests on the forgiveness you and I received by the atoning blood of Jesus. He shed his blood for people who slapped him, spit at him, mocked him, yelled cruel words. These were people who threatened his life and ultimately hung him on a cross. When you forgive others, your life becomes a witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you forgive, your life become a witness to the forgiveness and saving grace of Jesus.
In his final days on earth, in the very throws of being betrayed and hunted down by his enemies, Jesus leaves his disciples with these words.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 13:34-35).
As the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.”
How we treat each other speaks louder than the Christian doctrines we teach. Let your life be an overflow to the supernatural love of God. Let your life be a witness of forgiveness.