God’s Forgiveness

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Psalms 103:8-14).

Our God, who delights in forgiving our prideful hearts, and our forgiving God who pardons our constantly betraying ways as we stubbornly turn away from listening to the Father's words, avoiding the remembrance of the astonishing works of God in the past, and persistently returning to our old ways—this is our God who forgives.  His character is gracious, rich in mercy, slow to anger, and He does not forsake us.  He loves us, even when we were His enemies, sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and declaring us righteous.  Truly, He is a God who loves His enemies.

In response to such love, He commands us, who enjoy His love, to love our enemies.  It is only natural and fitting for us, as His children, to manifest the character of our Heavenly Father.  However, are we truly revealing and living out the character of this God of forgiveness?  As we pray, "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us," are we genuinely forgiving those who have sinned against us?