David Hathaway

Forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel, yet it is one of the hardest things for us to do. How can we forgive others when they have hurt us so badly? But unless we forgive, we ourselves cannot be forgiven; Jesus taught in Matthew 6, 'If you forgive those who have sinned against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.' Our example of how to love and forgive is Jesus. Romans 5:8-10 teaches, 'God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by His life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God - all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.' - We must forgive and renew friendship, just as God did for us. 'So real to me' used by kind permission of www.vinesong.com