Day 43: Forgive One Another

“...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).

Pastor Kevin Casey

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