“Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; Ephesians 5:1 (AMP).
This month’s topic was inspired by the National Day of Forgiveness, which was Thursday, September 18, 2019.
Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be an imitator of God. A couple of definitions from the dictionary for imitator are: 1) to follow as a pattern, model or example 2) to be or appear like: resemble.
You may be wondering what does imitating God have to do with forgiveness?
God forgives. If we desire to be like Him, we will want to imitate Him, becoming a model and example and also forgive. Forgiveness is a choice which I believe to be one of the highest forms of love. And sometimes the hardest. One might say, “you don’t know what they did to me”. You’re right. I don’t.
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Each one of us has done something or said something wrong. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, it has happened.
Therefore, we need to walk according to Ephesians 5:1, be imitators of God and forgive one another. There are some things and some hurts we may feel are unforgivable. But, if we ask from a sincere heart, God will help us to forgive, even that which we feel is unforgivable. It may not happen the 1st time, the 2nd time or even the 3rd or 4th time, but if we continue to ask Him and mean it, He will help us. How do I know? I have had to do it. My prayer today is, “Lord, help me to be quick to forgive”, because the longer you wait the harder it is.
Unforgiveness keeps us and the person we are holding the unforgiveness towards in bondage. Unforgiveness keeps us from loving fully and freely, even with those we do not have unforgiveness towards. Unforgiveness can cause physical sickness in our bodies. This does not mean everyone that has some type of sickness has unforgiveness in their life. Even more importantly, it hinders our prayers, our walk and our relationship with God.
So, let’s be imitators of our Heavenly Father by showing mercy and compassion; and forgive. One may ask, “What if the person is no longer here? What if I would be putting myself in danger to go to that person? Go to God, pour out your heart to Him and forgive from the heart.
