Forgiveness

“If you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.” – Matthew 6:14-15 NASB

In 1947, Corrie ten Boom spoke at a church in Munich. The German people were recovering from World War II. Corrie spoke about a practical subject: forgiveness. She declared that when we confess our sins, they are gone forever.

After her message, a man approached Corrie whom she remembered being a guard at the Ravensbruck concentration camp where she and her sister Betsie had been imprisoned during the war. Betsie died in that camp. The man admitted he had been a guard but said he had since become a Christian. “I know God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well,” he said as he reached out his hand. “Will you forgive me?”

Corrie wrestled with her response. As she reached out her hand, an incredible thing took place. She felt a current racing down her arm into their joined hands. A healing warmth flooded her whole being, bringing tears to her eyes. For a long moment, the two grasped each other’s hands. “The former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then,” she later recalled.

Are there people whom you need to forgive? If Corrie ten Boom could forgive this guard, you can forgive those who have wronged you. Ask God to help you. As you forgive others, He will forgive you.

Reflection Question: Write a prayer forgiving those who have wronged you.