Clarification:
*** Yesterday’s devotional: While the book of Lamentation does not specifically list an author, many believe it’s Jeremiah, as the time period matches. I specifically stated this was written by Solomon, likely confusing it with Ecclesiastes. I retract that here and have slightly edited the devotional yesterday. I think the comparison to Solomon‘s life still is helpful though. Thankful for those who help keep these devotionals correct. I can make mistakes sometimes.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Forgiveness is a challenging calling. It sounds great and nice until you have to exercise it. The exercise usually comes with a lot of hashing through heartache and pain. This is why our passage represents God the Father as the example, and the one who can help us forgive well.

Just when I think I have forgiveness down, I get upended with how tough it can be.

Forgiving family, friends, and coworkers changes depending on what is done and how many times it is done to us. It can be incredibly laborious and draining. I think this is why the Apostle Peter famously asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬). He was probably at his wits end with a repetitive sin committed against him, that he was having to forgive over and over and over again.

So I know I am called to forgive, and I want to do it, but how do I really have a heart of forgiveness? How can I move past the niceties of the classic “Sure, I forgive you, no problem” response to a person’s face, which also has a mind that wonders, “How long will this current pledge last, and how many more times will I have to forgive them for the same thing”?

I have found that if I am not honest with myself as to the depth of the damage inflicted, or the expanse of the wound, then I will also not honestly forgive all the way.

If someone deceives me, lies to me, and steals from me, this can break trust. It is hard for me to wish them well. But God commands that I forgive them. And if I act on the surface as if I have, but in my heart I am still angry, then have I really forgiven them? No! I must admit the deep damage and forgive to the point of wishing them good. I must pray for their benefit. Then forgiveness has legs.

And so we have the concept of “bearing with each other”. This is the “foot-leather” of forgiveness. It is the working out of it. It is not heady or philosophical. It is action planned and practiced in the days and nights of interaction. It is love where love is not even thought of.

When we remember how much God has forgiven us of, we submit and humbly obey his command to forgive others every time in big and crazy-awesome ways.

Lord, thank you for this passage today. I needed to hear this. You have forgiven me of soooooo much. I really need to open up and forgive better too. Teach me.