What Is Forgiveness?

This powerful exploration of forgiveness challenges us to understand what forgiveness truly is—and what it isn't. We discover that forgiveness is not pretending we weren't hurt, minimizing the wrong done to us, or excusing bad behavior. Instead, forgiveness is a deliberate choice to give up our right to get even, to treat our offenders with kindness, and ultimately to pray for those who have wounded us. The message draws deeply from Joseph's story in Genesis, where he told his brothers who had sold him into slavery: 'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.' This counter-cultural approach is further reinforced by Romans 12, which calls us to feed our enemies and bless those who persecute us. Perhaps most sobering is the reality found in Matthew 6:14-15—our own forgiveness from God is directly tied to our willingness to forgive others. This isn't about feelings or emotions; it's about our eternal destiny. When we hold onto unforgiveness, we're the ones held hostage by bitterness and anger, not our offenders. The freedom we desperately seek doesn't come when our offender apologizes, changes, or even dies—it comes when we make the choice to forgive. This teaching invites us to examine our hearts and ask: who do we need to forgive today?