“...forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:13
Jesus didn’t just teach about forgiveness—He revealed how deeply it reflects the Father’s heart. He said those who are forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:47). When He taught His disciples to pray, He included this bold line: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). That wasn’t a side note—it was central. Jesus even warned that when we refuse to forgive, it reveals that we’ve not truly received grace ourselves (see Matt. 18:21–35).
Paul continues this truth and drives it home for the Church. He writes, “forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you.” In other words, forgiveness isn’t optional—it’s foundational. It’s not something we do when we feel like it. It’s the natural overflow of knowing we’ve been completely forgiven.
You don’t forgive because someone deserves it. You forgive because Jesus forgave you.
And let’s be honest—forgiveness can be hard if you are thinking the way the world thinks. The world says, “Hold on to your pain. Protect yourself. Make them pay.” But the Kingdom says, “Release it. Trust God. Let grace lead.” The same Spirit who forgave you empowers you to forgive others. Forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was okay. It means you trust God more than your pain.
When you refuse to forgive, you lock yourself in a prison of offense. But when you release others, you’re the one who walks free.
Forgiven people forgive. That’s how grace works. It changes you from the inside out.
So today, don’t wait for the feeling. Choose forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit for strength. Remember the mercy that met you when you didn’t deserve it—and let that mercy flow through you to others. That’s what the Kingdom looks like.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
Jesus didn’t just teach about forgiveness—He revealed how deeply it reflects the Father’s heart. He said those who are forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:47). When He taught His disciples to pray, He included this bold line: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). That wasn’t a side note—it was central. Jesus even warned that when we refuse to forgive, it reveals that we’ve not truly received grace ourselves (see Matt. 18:21–35).
Paul continues this truth and drives it home for the Church. He writes, “forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you.” In other words, forgiveness isn’t optional—it’s foundational. It’s not something we do when we feel like it. It’s the natural overflow of knowing we’ve been completely forgiven.
You don’t forgive because someone deserves it. You forgive because Jesus forgave you.
And let’s be honest—forgiveness can be hard if you are thinking the way the world thinks. The world says, “Hold on to your pain. Protect yourself. Make them pay.” But the Kingdom says, “Release it. Trust God. Let grace lead.” The same Spirit who forgave you empowers you to forgive others. Forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened was okay. It means you trust God more than your pain.
When you refuse to forgive, you lock yourself in a prison of offense. But when you release others, you’re the one who walks free.
Forgiven people forgive. That’s how grace works. It changes you from the inside out.
So today, don’t wait for the feeling. Choose forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit for strength. Remember the mercy that met you when you didn’t deserve it—and let that mercy flow through you to others. That’s what the Kingdom looks like.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
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Pastor Kevin Casey
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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