As helpful as it is to learn what forgiveness is, it’s even more impactful to learn what it is not.  There are many misconceptions surrounding this topic.  One of them is that if I choose to forgive, I’m insinuating that what happened to me was no big deal.  That is simply not true.  

As children of God, we are called to be like our Father. God feels strongly about sin and so must we.  He took it so seriously that He sacrificed the life of His Son to make us holy again.  I must take sin, and the sacrifice of God’s Son, so seriously that I also do something outrageous ~ forgive because I am forgiven.  

Forgiving another doesn’t reduce the gravity of their sin. It is possible to forgive while imposing boundaries.  I can forgive while initiating consequences.  Forgiveness does not even exclude involving the law and civil authorities. Restraining orders and arrests for assault are often necessary.

God forgave King David and gave him a fresh page on the canvas of his life by bringing forth the birth of Solomon.  Yet, included in his future were also the consequences of his sin. It started with the death of the child he and Bathsheba conceived outside of marriage. 

Joseph forgave his brothers but he didn’t excuse their sin.  He set up a test for them to prove a change of heart.  He was clear as he addressed them. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20  He did not tell not to worry about what they had done because God worked everything out in the end.  

I am commanded to forgive because that’s what my Father did for me.  I  must forgive small things as well as horrific things.  I am not exempt because of the severity of an offense.  God rules over large and small matters and I can trust him to rule and redeem everything that concerns me.     Whether or not I see redemption is dependent on my obedience.  Bitterness and revenge tie God’s hands from blessing me with beautiful outcomes.