Benefits of Forgiveness

Thursday 7 June
READ: I Samuel 24:1-22
MORE LESSON: Matthew 18:21-35

Forgiveness is a rare virtue and a word that is becoming very scarce in our world. There seems to be friction everywhere; parents not getting along with their children, and vice versa, employer against their employee, the list is endless. This has necessitated the need to learn the act of forgiveness because Luke 17:1 says, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! If this is true, then we must also make forgiveness a part of our everyday life so that we can easily deal with offences as they come.
Forgiveness is not easy. Sometimes in a bid to forgive, there is this temptation to pay back but we must always resist such temptations. For instance, when Saul pursued David in the wilderness, intending to kill him, David got close to Saul while the King was asleep. He cut a piece of Saul's robe but his heart smote him because of what he had done. And he said to his men, ...The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way: I Sam. 24:6-7. Like most of us today, David was also tempted to repay Saul for all the evil he had done to him but David was more conscious of pleasing God rather than having his way. If all we seek is to please God, then forgiveness will become very easy for us. Though not easy, forgiveness has tremendous benefits which pay off both in the immediate and in the long run.
Benefits that David derived from forgiving Saul:
1. Saul was humbled before David and he wept. You can break the proud wings of your enemy by choosing to forgive them.
2. David's goodness and act of kindness became obvious to Saul and he could not but acknowledge it…thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil: I Sam. 24:17.
3. Saul became subject to David; he eventually accepted David as the one chosen to replace him and begged him not to cut off his seed after him or destroy his name out of his father's house.
Forgiveness will always win, it will always prevail and conquer, just like in the story of Joseph; it is like stooping to win. Choose the path of forgiveness for it is the pathway of godliness.

Prayer/Action
* Ask for grace to be able to forgive at all times.
* Pray that you will not be an instrument of offence but of peace.
* Pray that as you forgive men today God will heal your heart and give you all the benefits of forgiveness.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Satan, by the power of the Almighty God, I overthrow you this sixth month from every area of my life, in the name of Jesus.