Experience love and peace by forgiving from the heart.

“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9 NLT.

The COID-19 pandemic season we all are in is not an easy time in any form or fashion. Alternatively, it is more of a stressful time for the majority of people. Relationships are being tested with stress being in the lockdown. Children are schooling from home, parents working from home, and all fear of uncertainties, including health issues, financial issues, the potential for job loss, and less income, all are on people’s minds.

There is a heightened probability of becoming judgmental, critical, and less gracious and merciful these days. Parents are quick to find children’s mistakes. Spouses can also be more judgmental, critical, and controlling. We all know gracious approaches and conversations, merciful and compassionate actions, and self-control are, of course, marks of spiritual maturity and growth, don’t we?

Try not to give others what they deserve-finding faults, highlighting mistakes and omissions. Please make a point to give what they do not deserve-forgiving, merciful, gracious, and compassionate. Our insight says, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” (NLT). Another translation of the same verse says, “Whoever forgives someone’s sins makes a friend, but gossiping about the sin breaks up friendships.” You can forgive from your heart. Or you can go around and gossip about it. The result is either you make a friend or breaks up friendships.

Peter says in 1 Peter 4:7-8 says, “the end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Peter reminds us that the end of all things is near. We have recently witnessed many thousands of people’s lives ended through the worldwide pandemic. More evil days are on the way as we continue living on this planet earth before getting better. Therefore what must we do now? The admonition is -be prayerful and love deeply because love covers a multitude of sins.

You see, people around us are most probably begging for mercy, grace, and forgiveness. You give these things that people are crying for these difficult days. Do not try injecting legalistic talks/measures with people whom you love. Say gracious, kind, merciful, and compassionate words. Try to lift them. Try to be merciful with people you come across- inside the home and outside the home.

One of the verses about God repeated in the Bible is this –”The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Exodus 34:6, Pslams 145:8 and more). Isaiah 30:18 says, “Therefore the LORDS waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.” Ephesians 1:7-8 says, “in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.”

God lavished the richness of His grace by sending Jesus for our rescue through his blood. When God sent Him to us, he shed his blood for you on the cross for the forgiveness of all of your sins. That much great is the grace of God and Jesus Christ.

Maybe you can’t show mercy, grace, and forgiveness to others because you are not connected to the source- God’s love, grace, and mercy. Bible says God would make you a brand new creation capable to love, show mercy and grace to others around when you taste the love of God lavished in Christ Jesus. How can you taste the love of God? Listen! God loves you. He sent Jesus to die in your place for your sins and mistakes. Jesus died, buried, and rose again to make you a child of God. This is the good news called the Gospel, which has the power to save and empower you.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I heard about how rich you are in grace, forgiveness, and love. I want to be like you. I want to get connected to the source of love, grace, and forgiveness- Jesus Christ- who died, buried, and rose again for my sins and mistakes. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Please come to my life, save, and empower me. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.