MondaySunday Recap: Colossians

Key Verses: Colossians 3:12-13

"Forgiveness kills bitterness at its roots."  -Craig Groeschel

Last week my hubs taught about forgiveness.  He also taught the basics of what forgiveness is and is not...

Forgiveness is NOT...
-pretending it didn't happen
-enabling the offender
-responding to an apology
-forgetting
-trusting
-reconciliation

Forgiveness is...

-releasing someone of a debt

-a gift to you and gift to the offender

-an act of grace

-leaving ultimate justice to God

-a decision and a process

-genuinely wanting good for the offender

What "forgiveness is/is not" helped me gain a fresh view of the reality of forgiveness and it diffused a few urban legends (refer to sermon for Pop Rocks + Coca-Cola experiment).  

We choose to be more like Jesus when we choose to forgive.  He forgave us.  He tells us to forgive.  It's clear He wants us to forgive.  Check out the parable of the unmerciful servant.  Thankful Jesus gives us motivation and grace to forgive. 

Note: Thanks to technology and our awesome video crew (the Handy fam) -- I watched this sermon (from Aug 26) on my iPhone!  Check it out here!