'FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER...AS GOD...HAS FORGIVEN YOU.'EPHESIANS 4:32 NLT

Imagine living in a society where adulterers wear a scarlet and thieves wear a ball and chain. Imagine being identified only by your past. 'They probably deserved it,' you say. Really? Jesus said if you look at a member of the opposite sex with lust, you've committed adultery in your heart (See Matthew 5:28). Ouch! Then He went on to say that the standard of judgment you impose on others, is the standard by which you'll be judged (See Matthew 7:1-2). Can you live with that? Now, God's not soft on sin. His love won't let you off. 'The Lord disciplines those He loves' (Hebrews 12:6 NIV). But His love won't let you go. 'Nothing can separate us from the love of God' (See Romans 8:38-39).

We're not too familiar with scarlet letters or balls and chains, but we are with computers. And then someone hurts or upsets us, God saves, 'Forgive, and hit the delete button!' otherwise you'll be corrupted with virus that controls the way you think, act and talk. Worst of all, it'll keep you chained to the memories. ‘But forgiving is hard, you say. Sure; that's why Jesus said, ' pray for those who mistreated' (See Matthew 5:44). Forgiving someone begins with praying for them. ‘But I need to try and understand why they did it.' Smart people do stupid stuff. Good people do bad stuff. Misguided people don't know what they're doing. That's why Jesus prayed, 'Father, forgive them; for they know what they do' (Luke 23:34). You may understand someday, or you may never understand. Either way, for your own sake forgive, hit delete button and move on!

Evangelist Philip Jegede’s Reading Courtesy of DWFT: Num 14-15, Mark 10:1-2, Ps 37:25-31, Pr 11:26-