You Are God's Temple: Devotions From Time of GraceSample

Honor God With Your Relationships: Forgiveness, not payback

It’s hard to forgive. I know. I am still holding onto some old pain memories as though they were gold coins. But I know this, and I want you to know it too: refusing to forgive those who have hurt you will only make you emotionally (and maybe physically) sick.

Refusal to forgive keeps you trapped in an anger prison. Refusal to forgive leads to a false sense of moral superiority. Refusal to forgive poisons and embitters your spirit. Refusal to forgive motivates Christ to withhold the forgiveness you need (yeah, seriously--check out Matthew 6:15).

Here’s a better way. Fill your temple with joyful praise to your forgiving Savior. Fill your heart with the same spirit he shows you: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). And know this--no matter how hard that may seem, the Lord will always give you the strength to do what is right.