The Higher Path

“Now to whom you forgive anything, I do too. For what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for you in the presence of Christ, so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his intentions.” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 CSB)

If you wanted to hinder the work of God’s kingdom, disrupt the fellowship of His people, and keep people from being at peace with one another, how would you do it?

One way Satan does this is through our unforgiveness. Unforgiveness may be Satan’s greatest tool. The people of God are the most dangerous to Satan’s kingdom of darkness when they are united, reconciled, at peace with one another, and focused. They are the least dangerous when they are angry, fighting, and at odds with one another. So, if Satan can keep people from reconciling, that is to his advantage. Thus, Satan is a promoter of unforgiveness. But Paul says that we are not unaware of Satan’s intentions, and in this area we are very aware, or should be. Anyone who refuses to forgive plays into Satan's plans.

Forgiveness is the way to go. In Luke 17:3-4 Jesus says, “Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he responds, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” And again, following the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus says, “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.”

The fact that I forgive someone who has wronged me, is an indicator that I understand what forgiveness is all about. If I do not forgive, then that indicates that I do not understand forgiveness and may, in fact, have never personally experienced it. And if that happens, Satan’s darkness remains. That is something we must not let happen.

The Bible teaches that as God has graced us, so we are to grace one another. Forgiveness is the way to go.

Father, Because we have experienced Your forgiveness, help us to understand in our hearts the requirement of forgiving others. In Your Name. Amen.