Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6:37c
As long as there is nothing for which you need forgiveness, you can go on your merry way through life. If however, you need to be forgiven of something you have done or failed to do, then you need to extend forgiveness to those who have hurt or offended you.
This could mean that regardless of the wrong done, you need to forgive the person or persons.
This could mean that you need to forgive the person or persons who have hurt or offended you even when he, she, or they have not asked to be forgiven.
These situations could make forgiving even more difficult for us nevertheless if we desire or need to be forgiven ourselves, then we need to extend forgiveness.
Thomas Fuller (1608-1661), a British scholar, author, and preacher, said, “He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven.” Fuller affirmed what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Rome: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(3:23) Fuller emphasizes the relationship between forgiving and being forgiven through an image of a bridge. We cannot be forgiven unless we are willing to forgive.
O Lord, there is so much more we need to learn about forgiving others and receiving Your forgiveness, Keep us ever mindful that our being forgiven is directly related to our practice of forgiving others. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.