Lack of forgiveness keeps people stuck in their past. Lack of forgiveness creates bitterness in people’s lives. Lack of forgiveness damages our relationship with God. Lack of forgiveness brings great distrust. Lack of forgiveness makes people hateful and vengeful. Lack of forgiveness breaks up families. Lack of forgiveness hinders prayer. Lack of forgiveness robs people of their peace and tranquility.
Do not treat this as a game or a joke. Saying, “I won’t forgive, let God forgive,” or “I forgive but I don’t forget,” or “I forgive but I don’t want to see the person,” are just some of the many words people use that show their hearts are not right and bitterness has entered in. But what God wants to show us is that when we forgive, we are the first to be set free, and when we don’t forgive, our conscience has no peace.
You may say that no one knows what is in your heart and that you carry people around in your heart, talking about them or living with them every day, but your heart is not real toward them. Well, you need to stop lying to yourself, because lack of forgiveness shows in how you treat people, how you speak to them, and even physically, because bitterness can be seen in one’s face and expression.
Eventually, you start distancing yourself, you cannot face someone, or you cannot sit in a conversation because you have something against that person, and time has passed, and you haven’t let it go. Lack of forgiveness opens a large door for the devil, because in the book of Ephesians 4:26-27 it is written: “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” In a word: settle the matter, forgive one another. Especially when it comes to marriage and family matters. But also, do not forget that God commands us to forgive everyone, not just those in our own household.
Do not let money issues (Matthew 18:21-35) make you walk around with anger toward people; forgive and do not walk with hatred in your heart. Do not wish evil on anyone, nor repay evil with evil. Forgive so that you may have peace with yourself, peace with God, and peace with your neighbor.
In 1 John 3:15 it is written: “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11: “Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”