Forgiving, the Healthy Choice

Forgiveness is a freeing thing. Being unforgiving eats at the soul until it shrinks away instead of growing. -Jacquelyn Cook

Jesus had the attitude and spirit of forgiveness. In Luke 18, Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler reveals the approach we should possess. When asked to do the repair required for forgiveness (sell what you have and distribute it to the poor), the ruler walked away. I believe Jesus’ heart broke that day because He, as God’s son, could not elicit the response needed from this man for salvation. Jesus, on the other hand, had the attitude and spirit of forgiveness because He would have still offered the same deal if the ruler would have reconsidered and returned to Him in a day, a week, or a year.

The question is, do you and I have the attitude and spirit of forgiveness? If we cannot let go of a wrong done, it will eat at our soul. Jesus dealt with the “wrong” of the rich young ruler walking away by offering him forgiveness via a repair needed in his life. If we can do the same, a forgiving spirit and attitude will remove a very unhealthy and heavy burden from our lives. In some cases, forgiveness will mean letting go completely; others: asking for forgiveness; some cases may require or doing repair for a wrong we have done.