Ephesians 4:31-32 – “ You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk—indeed all malice. ³² Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word, I was again challenged by a liberating truth most Christians have modified.   The truth is that forgiveness must be from the heart.  We are to forgive “just as” God forgives!  Do we truly do that?

I’ve heard believers say, “I forgive them but will never trust or associate with them again.”   I have a probing question, “Is that how God treats us?”  

• Does He forgive us, then push us aside?
• Does He forgive us and then never trust us again?
• Does He forgive us and then withhold fellowship from us?

If we forgive from the heart in total forgiveness, “just as” Jesus forgives, is the slate ripped clean?   It is with God, and if it isn’t with us toward others, is that total forgiveness?  You may not have deep personal interaction with someone, but if it is because of a past action, that is not “just as” God forgives and restores us.

Grace cannot be earned!  Trust is earned, but not forgiveness.  Forgiveness is given by grace in love!   Don’t push this out of bounds, but evaluate your motivation for rejection of another person.   If your personalities, interests, and visions are incompatible, that’s one thing.  If it is because of the previous offense, that’s another.  Just as is the key.  In light of our forgiveness and restoration by God, we forgive others!

Always remember that grace cannot be earned.  It is given out of love!   If we trust God, we can trust Him in forgiveness!

God is challenging me to examine why I draw near some and avoid others!   I would like to say I avoid no one, but I have, and it stemmed from a judgment over an offense.   If we forgive “just as” God forgives, we do not see them as what they have done but as a creation of God, a fellow member of the human family, and somebody God loves and for whom Jesus died.

It’s easy to identify the depth of forgiveness by the thoughts and emotions when they show up, or we hear their names.   Can we treat them as God treats us?  He forgives and chooses never to hold our sins against us.   Do we forgive that way?

In a short post, I cannot address all the ramifications of forgiveness and interpersonal relationships, but the words “From the heart and Juust As” are inescapable.  Father, forgive me for my failure to forgive and love “just as” You!

In other places, Jesus linked forgiveness with answered prayer!   Victory is in “just as!”    May God’s Heart and ability to Forgive fill your hearts today and lead you to the ultimate victory in Jesus!  May His presence, peace, power, and provisions pursue you and be your constant companions.

Have a victorious day in Jesus, and be more than a conqueror through Him!