Bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Colossians 3:13 (NAS)

When Jesus was hanging on a cross, betrayed by the crowd and mercilessly beaten by Roman soldiers, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” He chose to show love, even in His anguish. That’s what Paul tells us to do in his letter to the Colossians. Sooner or later, someone is going to hurt you deeply, or worse, hurt someone dear to you. It’s easy to stay angry, but better to let it go. They may never try to make it right, but bitterness doesn’t punish them; it imprisons your heart. Forgiveness frees you, even if you never hear an apology. Release your hurt to the Lord and let Him replace it with healing and peace.

Dear Lord Jesus,

You were completely innocent, but You endured the agony of betrayal, rejection, and horrible pain – for me. Incredibly, You forgave the ones who hurt and mocked You that day. And You forgave me, the one who put You there. I live because of Your breathtaking sacrifice, and I pray that I will never withhold forgiveness from anyone. You are my King, Jesus, and I want to honor You.

I love You, Lord.

Amen.