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| (King Saul and David. Click for source.) |
Forgiveness Is Important to Living a Christian Life, and Having God's Blessing, and Having God's Peace
People have wronged us. It happens throughout life and it happens to everyone. Due to the sin nature, people can be cruel and uncaring of each other, but forgiving those who have wronged us a necessary to our healing and growth and to staying in communion or fellowship with God. Without forgiveness, humanity would self-destruct.
King David forgave King Saul, who sought to kill him; and who took his wife, Michal, from him; and who killed many priests of the Lord. God blessed him for that and David was crowned king and given power over the land of Israel and over his enemies. God blessed him for forgiving his enemies. David lamented over Saul when he heard of his death during a battle with the Philistines (2 Samuel 1:17-27). He also forbid his men from doing any harm to Saul when Saul was, unknowingly, in one of the caves David and his men were hiding in (1 Samuel 24).
Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling. And, faith is a choice, and it is not a feeling. That is why Jesus told the ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter had just died, "...Be not afraid, only believe."
