"The Gift of Forgiveness"

By José de Dios, Executive Vice President for People and Culture

Post date: Nov. 27, 2020

This has been a difficult year for so many of us, and it can feel like there’s no end in sight. While the country becomes more polarized around politics, Christmas offers us an opportunity to reflect on the hope and the forgiveness God extends to us. He desires that we reconcile with him and with each other.

Forgiveness can be a tricky concept, especially when we think about the trauma, violence and deep hurt many experience in their lifetimes. How can people extend forgiveness when their lives have been deeply impacted by the actions of others?

December’s Deeply Rooted devotionals remind us to see forgiveness from a different perspective — that of God’s divine forgiveness toward us, even while we were sinners. Only when we remember this do we begin to understand the redemptive, restoring and healing power of forgiveness.

In an article called “Truth and Reconciliation,” Desmond Tutu wrote: “Forgiveness gives us the capacity to make a new start. That is the power, the rationale, of confession and forgiveness. It is to say, ‘I have fallen but I am not going to remain there. Please forgive me.’ And forgiveness is the grace by which you enable the other person to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew.”

When we experience forgiveness and reconciliation with God, we begin to understand that we can only be truly free when we extend the same, often unmerited, forgiveness to others. Only God’s grace can give us the strength and the courage to let go of our hurt and take on his nature as we forgive.

May you dive deep into his grace and forgiveness this season.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.” (Isaiah 9:6-7a, NLT)

Questions for Reflection:

• Forgiveness from God is an undeserved gift. What’s a gift someone has given you that you didn’t feel like you deserved?

• When have you struggled to forgive someone? How did it impact you emotionally and spiritually?

• How can knowing we’re forgiven by God help us extend forgiveness to others?

Our Deeply Rooted devotionals are designed specifically for you to engage deeper in community with one another. We encourage you to gather together as a team for 15-30 minutes of reading, discussion and prayer each week using the prompts in the devotional.

Para leer el devocional en español oprima aquí.