“...bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” — Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)
Jesus didn’t just teach forgiveness—He embodied it. Cruelly nailed to the cross, He prayed for His executioners: “Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34). And He warned us plainly in Matthew 6:14: “If you forgive others, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” Forgiveness isn’t optional in the Kingdom—it’s foundational.
Paul echoes that same standard in his letter to the Colossians: Forgive as Christ forgave you. Not because the person deserves it. Not because they asked for it. But because you’ve been forgiven. Freely. Fully. Forever.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was okay. It means you’re releasing the weight of it to God. You’re choosing not to let bitterness define you or the offense control you. Unforgiveness doesn’t hurt the offender—it poisons the offended. It clogs the flow of grace in your own heart.
And here’s the truth: you can forgive because Christ lives in you. His Spirit enables you to do what your flesh resists. You’re not forgiving out of sheer willpower—you’re yielding to grace. You’re passing along what you’ve received.
That’s why forgiveness is such a powerful testimony. It’s supernatural. The world holds grudges, demands payback, and nurtures offense. But the Church walks in mercy. We cancel debts because Jesus canceled ours.
Maybe someone hurt you deeply. Maybe they never apologized. Maybe they don’t deserve forgiveness. But then again—neither did we. And Christ forgave us anyway.
Today, ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Is there anyone you need to forgive?
Anyone you’ve silently held something against? You don’t have to carry it any longer. Let it go.
Speak forgiveness by faith. And trust God with the rest.
Forgiveness frees you. Mercy wins. Grace always goes first.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
Jesus didn’t just teach forgiveness—He embodied it. Cruelly nailed to the cross, He prayed for His executioners: “Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34). And He warned us plainly in Matthew 6:14: “If you forgive others, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” Forgiveness isn’t optional in the Kingdom—it’s foundational.
Paul echoes that same standard in his letter to the Colossians: Forgive as Christ forgave you. Not because the person deserves it. Not because they asked for it. But because you’ve been forgiven. Freely. Fully. Forever.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was okay. It means you’re releasing the weight of it to God. You’re choosing not to let bitterness define you or the offense control you. Unforgiveness doesn’t hurt the offender—it poisons the offended. It clogs the flow of grace in your own heart.
And here’s the truth: you can forgive because Christ lives in you. His Spirit enables you to do what your flesh resists. You’re not forgiving out of sheer willpower—you’re yielding to grace. You’re passing along what you’ve received.
That’s why forgiveness is such a powerful testimony. It’s supernatural. The world holds grudges, demands payback, and nurtures offense. But the Church walks in mercy. We cancel debts because Jesus canceled ours.
Maybe someone hurt you deeply. Maybe they never apologized. Maybe they don’t deserve forgiveness. But then again—neither did we. And Christ forgave us anyway.
Today, ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Is there anyone you need to forgive?
Anyone you’ve silently held something against? You don’t have to carry it any longer. Let it go.
Speak forgiveness by faith. And trust God with the rest.
Forgiveness frees you. Mercy wins. Grace always goes first.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
Posted in Living in love humility and community
Pastor Kevin Casey
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Day 1: Knowing Jesus is Eternal LifeDay 2: That I May Know HimDay 3: The Supremacy of ChristDay 4: Christ the FoundationDay 5: Forgiven CompletelyDay 6: Forgive as You’ve Been ForgivenDay 7: A New CreationDay 8: Righteous by FaithDay 9: Adopted and ChosenDay 10: Accepted in the BelovedDay 11: Seated with ChristDay 12: God’s WorkmanshipDay 13: Nothing Can Separate YouDay 14: Christ in You, the Hope of GloryDay 15: The Mind of ChristDay 16: The Image of God RestoredDay 17: Grace That TeachesDay 18: The Measure of FaithDay 19: Faith Works by LoveDay 20: The Faith of the Son of GodDay 21: The Crucified LifeDay 22: Renew Your MindDay 23: Take Every Thought CaptiveDay 24: Think on These ThingsDay 25: Be Spiritually Minded
February
Day 26: Press Toward the GoalDay 27: Led by the SpiritDay 28: Walk in the SpiritDay 29: Spirit of Power, Love, and Sound MindDay 30: Empowered From On HighDay 31: Healing Is in the AtonementDay 32: Minister Healing to OthersDay 33: Pray in the SpiritDay 34: The Spirit Helps Our WeaknessDay 35: Be Filled ContinuouslyDay 36: Gifts of the SpiritDay 37: Spirit-Led MinistryDay 38: Fruit of the SpiritDay 39: The Spirit Bears WitnessDay 40: Walk Worthy of Your CallingDay 41: Love Is the GreatestDay 42: Unity of the SpiritDay 43: Forgive One AnotherDay 44: Serve in LoveDay 45: Bear One Another’s Burdens
