The Forgiving Heart

Forgiveness is critical to a healthy spirit. Unforgiveness not only brings darkness to our spirits, but can actually bring death to us.

Jesus exemplified the heart of forgiveness under any offence, even to the point when He gave up His spirit on the cross. Jesus also exemplified perfection in hearing Father’s voice at all times.

Unforgiveness can deafen our spiritual ears. But a quick-to-forgive heart will help keeps our ears open to hearing God’s voice.

If we harbor unforgiveness towards someone who has offended us, our attitude towards that person becomes poisoned by bitterness. Fresh water and bitter water cannot come from the same well (James 3:11). Likewise, we choke off the river of Living Water if we hold bitterness in our hearts.

A heart that jumps to forgive any and all offenses is typical of the greatest hearers of Father’s voice in the Bible. Here are just three:

Moses

God said of Moses that he was faithful in all of His house and that of all men, he was the most meek (Numbers 12:3, 7). God even spoke to Moses face to face (Exodus 33:11). Of all the people in the Old Testament, Moses heard God’s voice most frequently and most clearly.

In Exodus 32, after Moses came down from the mountain with the first set of the ten commandments and saw that the people were partying around the golden calf, Moses went back up to talk with the Lord. There was no mention that the people were repentant, yet Moses asked the Lord to forgive their sins. Moses went even further by asking the Lord that if He would not forgive them, then to blot out his own name from the book of Life instead of them.

The offense that the people committed was not directed at Moses. Nor, was there any indication that the people were repentant, yet Moses knew the importance of forgiveness and asked the Lord to forgive even to the point that he was willing to take the full and eternal punishment.

Daniel

Daniel was a man of priceless character and his ability to hear God’s voice had profound effects on his country.

One moment, he’s almost as powerful as the king, the next moment, he’s a nobody when a new king takes charge. Yet he remains faithful and consistent in his devotion to God. And forgiveness is an outstanding characteristic of Daniel’s heart. Even after King Darius throws Daniel in the lion’s den, the first thing that Daniel says to the king the next morning is, “O king, live forever!”. Many of us have experienced a far less life-threatening offense and yet we have responded with hatred or criticism.

In chapter 9, Daniel intercedes for God’s people. He intercedes using the word “we”—thus including himself as one of the wicked and rebellious. Daniel asks for God’s mercy and forgiveness for all of God’s chosen people. Daniel knew that forgiveness was the key to bring an end to the desolation of Jerusalem.

Stephen

Stephen (Acts 6 & 7) was a man full of God’s grace and power who did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. No one can have what Stephen had and not hear God’s voice.

Stephen had the same kind of forgiving heart that Jesus showed when He was crucified, for when Stephen was being stoned to death, he cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

To help our ears to hear Father’s voice, we need to forgive anyone who offends us, even if they have not asked for forgiveness and we should ask for God to forgive any offender—even if they offended someone else.

It is my prayer for you that Father will continue to help you to hear His voice, and more and more frequently.

With God’s grace and in His peace,

Gary

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