“The Risen Christ proclaimed not that we 'have to forgive,' but rather, that at last we CAN forgive-and thereby free ourselves from consuming bitterness and the offender from our binding condemnation. This process requires genuine human anger and grief, plus-and here is the awful cost of such freedom-a humble willingness to see the offender as God sees that person, in all his or her terrible brokenness and need for God's saving power. I would never tell another, 'You have to forgive.'” NeedsHumansPersonsLastsProcessChristGriefTerribleCostForgivenessForgivingHumbleGenuineAwfulSavingPlusWillingnessBitternessConsumingRisenBrokennessCondemnationBindingOffenders Author:Gordon Dalbey
“A man who has been assiduous in acquiring the fruits of love will not cease loving even if he suffers a thousand calamities. Let Stephen, the disciple of Christ, and others like him persuade you of the truth of this (cf. Acts 7:60). Our Lord Himself prayed for His murderers and asked the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing (cf. Luke 23:34).” IfsKnowsMenHas BeensSufferingFatherChristLordThousandForgivenessForgivingFruitCeaseDiscipleMurdererCalamityOur LordLukeCfs Author:Maximus the Confessor
“They who have been exercised in the service of God for a long time, may in their prayers imagine all sorts of insults offered to them, such as blows, wounds, and the like, and so in order to imitate Christ by their charity, may accustom their hearts beforehand to forgive real injuries when they come.” HeartMayLongHas BeensRealOrderChristPrayerImagineLong TimeForgivenessForgivingCharityBlowWoundsInsultInjury Book:The Maxims and Sayings of St Philip Neri Source: The Maxims and Sayings of St Philip Neri
“The assurance of His total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don't have to play defensive games anymore. We don't have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross.” KnowsMayMeanPlayBodyGamesJesusChristSinBloodForgivenessCrossesExcuseUglyBoresAssuranceShamefulRationalize Author:Jerry Bridges