Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
³²  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

This is one of the most significant “one another” passages we find in the New Testament.  Being willing to forgive is essential to any human relationship.  In the world, most people decide that forgiving is not necessary.  Holding grudges is typical behavior.  This is why there has been endless wars throughout history.

In Christ, our duty is to forgive rather than hold grudges.  One reason we are called to forgive is because we have been forgiven by God.  Since God has so freely forgiven us, and since we have sinned against Him far more than anyone has ever sinned against us, He demands that we forgive one another, and the price for not doing so is our salvation.

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)
¹⁴  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

If God does not forgive our trespasses, we will die in our sins and be eternally lost.  Does it sound to you that you have a choice when it comes to forgiving others?

Someone may ask, “but what if my brother sins against me several times?”  Then, as long as he repents, you must continue to forgive him.

Luke 17:3-4 (ESV)
³  Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, ⁴  and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Has anyone ever sinned against you seven times in a day?  Probably not.  Our Lord’s point is that we must forgive those who sin against us no matter how often that may be, as long as they repent.  How do we know if they have repented?  We only know by their fruit, but that fruit comes after the forgiveness, not before.  If a brother says he has repented, we must accept his word until it is proven otherwise.

Do not be like the man Jesus condemned in the parable of the unforgiven servant (Matthew 18:21-35).  This servant owed the king ten thousands talents, but when he begged the king for mercy, he was forgiven.  As it turns out, he was owed a hundred denarii from a fellow servant, but instead of forgiving him, as he had been forgiven, he refused and arranged for him to be thrown into prison.  When the king heard how he acted, he was angered and threw him in prison until he could pay his debt.  Do you remember the application Jesus made of the parable?

Matthew 18:35 (ESV)
³⁵  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Are you holding any grudges? Have you refused to forgive someone who has sinned against you?  I advise you to make it right before it is too late.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.