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Short Sermon #54: THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS - Great Christian blogs for women

"What are the benefits of forgiveness? Are there any advantages at all in forgiving?" you may be wondering.

Indeed, forgiveness holds benefits or advantages for both the offender and the offended. The one who forgives benefits, and so does the one who is forgiven.

Look at this: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." - Romans 4 Verse 7 (NIV)

By God's forgiveness through our Lord Jesus Christ, we became His blessed children; we passed from death to life. God forgave us to give us life.

So, whenever you forgive somebody, you bless them; you give them life, so to say. Forgiveness is a blessing. A blessing is for sharing. Remember, you were born to be a blessing to those within your sphere of contact.

When you forgive somebody, you set them free, you remove shackles from their hands and ankles, you take away the yoke from their shoulders, and you enable them to breathe well. You do the same to yourself; you open the prison doors wide open, so that you may fly out and get yourself some fresh air! 

The benefits of forgiveness touch the various facets of our lives - the spiritual, the emotional, and the physical.

Without the spirit of forgiveness, God cannot fully trust you with His work. To be able to work with people in the Christian ministry, in whatever capacity, you must be able to forgive those who offend you, for you will be offended several times in the course of your work. If Jesus Christ was not forgiving, would He have made the kind of sacrifice that He made for you and me?

We have sadly witnessed church assemblies in which pastors hold grudges against some congregants, sometimes to the extent of refusing to pray for such congregants. Quite regrettable! That's totally unlike Christ and it tempts one to think that such pastors were never sent by God.

Forgiveness fosters healthy relationships - be it in church, in the family, in matrimony, in the workplace, or even in friendship. Forgiveness sometimes melts the heart of the offender, making them realize their mistake and sometimes filling them with empathy.

Forgiveness also has several health benefits, including:
  • Peace of mind, for both the offender and the offended. This means reduced incidences of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
  • Lower blood pressure. A grievance unsettled results in pressure on both the offender and the offended. Forgiveness removes such pressure from both.
  • Improved immune system.
  • Better mental health.
  • The pressure of unforgiven grievances may also result in both the offender and the offended seeking refuge in alcohol, drug, and substance abuse; forgiveness would help in averting this.

So, forgiveness is vital for a quality life.

Here is what I consider to be the most important benefit of forgiveness - by forgiving, you take a leap toward attaining the fullness of the stature of Christ. You become more and more like the Lord. What a joy that would be for you!
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