Are you holding a grudge against someone?  If so, how does it make you feel?  If you are honest with yourself, it either makes you feel good, which means your heart is being occupied by the devil; or, it makes you feel miserable.  In either case, it means trouble for you.

Holding grudges is sinful.  Forgiving others is not optional, it is commanded.

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.

There are two aspects of forgiveness.  One facet of forgiveness involves pardoning the one who has sinned against you.  In this case, we are commanded to forgive (pardon) only if the offender repents (Luke 17:3).   God does not expect us to do what He is unwilling to do, that is, pardon those who sin against Him and are unwilling to repent.  This reveals why it is so important to confront the offender if that person does not come to us first.  In the Luke 17 passage, Jesus commands us to rebuke the one who has sinned.  Why is this so important? It is important because, without the loving rebuke, the person might never repent, and the salvation of the offender’s soul is more important than anything else.  This is why Jesus said in another place, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15).

There is another facet of forgiveness, however, that does not include pardoning the offender.  It is indicated by the Greek word aphiēmi which means, “To let go, disregard, or leave behind.”  This aspect of forgiveness is also commanded.  It is in our best interest to employ this part of forgiveness whether the person who sins against us repents or not.  Why?  First, because we are commanded to do so.  The word for forgiveness in Matthew 6:15 is aphiēmi so it does not necessitate repentance on the part of the offender.  While we do not have to pardon the one who does not repent, God does not allow us to hold on to the hostility and anger caused by the offense.  In other words, God does not want us holding grudges.

Secondly, the reason we should forgive those who sin against us, regardless of what they do, is because it is in our own best interest.  It is just not healthy, spiritually, or physically, to store up in our minds the anger that goes along with holding a grudge.  Someone once said, “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”   That is not a very smart thing to do, is it?  Grudge holding is not either.  The anger will eventually cause you to live with bitterness, and that will defile you spiritually, putting your soul in jeopardy

Hebrews 12:15 (ESV)
¹⁵  See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

I began this blog by asking you if you are holding a grudge, and if so, how it makes you feel.  I want to believe that it does not make you feel very good.  Being angry about something, or at someone, is miserable.  But, you can free yourself from that burden.  Forgiveness will bring you peace of mind.  Do not let pride keep you in a web of bitterness and anger.  Let go!           

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