This week, we are considering how God forgives us. We’ve already seen God proactively pursues forgiveness and forgives abundantly and mercifully. Today, I want to notice a fundamental way we sometimes try to forgive, which differs from how God forgives.
See, many ideas of forgiveness revolve around self-healing. Forgiveness is considered a way of letting go of hurt, bitterness, and anger so that we can live a happier and healthier life. Most people view forgiveness as something that helps them—their forgiveness is inward-focused.
But God’s forgiveness is outward. God does not forgive so that He will feel better. God does not forgive for His own benefit. No, when God forgives, we, the sinners, are blessed. God’s example teaches us that forgiveness is, amazingly, sinner-focused, not self-focused. How thankful we should be that God does not forgive in a way that focuses solely on Himself but instead practices a forgiveness that pardons, heals, and helps us, even though we are the guilty party.