The Power Of Forgiveness

Source: Good News Magazine

During the civil war in Korea, a Korean Christian was arrested and sentenced to death. When the commander found out that this man was in change of an orphanage, he changed his mind about the sentence. He decided to make this man witness the execution of his nineteen-year-old son who was to die instead of him.

Years later the commander was arrested by the authority exercised by the United Nations, found to be guilty of war crimes and sentenced to death. Before the execution, the Korean Christian who had witnessed in absolute horror the tragedy of his son’s execution interceded on the commander’s behalf to the authorities to free him. The former commander was granted absolution. The petition by the Korean Christian to pardon the commander who had murdered his son was granted.

Some time later, the commander came to know Jesus as his saviour because of the powerful ex­ample of forgiveness displayed by the Korean. Forgiveness has the power to soften hardened and cruel hearts. When God forgives us, we stand be­fore Him with gratitude and thanks­giving. When a person forgives with the power that God gives them, this inspires people to seek out the only one and true God who can so amazingly change lives.

If you are struggling to forgive, just remember that you are a product of forgiveness, a product of God’s love and grace.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one an­other, even as God in Christ for­gave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.” (Psalm 103:2-3)

“Blessed is he whose trans­gression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1).

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all un­righteousness.” (1 John 1:9).