I must forgive.[ Matthew 6 v 14-15]

While preaching recently I touched on something I had not prepared, forgiveness, and yet it was that very thing an elderly brother spoke to me about afterwards. He mentioned that he was divorced, his wife had left him for a neighbour many years ago, he spoke of how difficult it was to forgive, but he had. The Christian has no option but to forgive, and yet it is not easy, if one was raped, or ones child was hurt by someone, or one is hurt by fellow Christians, the list goes on. Yet if we are to have an ongoing relationship with God ,we are required to forgive those who have trespassed against us. I am reminded of what Peter was told by our Lord [John 21 v21-22 ], Peter was concerned about the other person, what shall this man do? our Lord replies ,what is that to thee? follow thou Me. Our forgiving is nothing to do what the other person will do, but what we are called to do, forgive, they may not change their attitude, but we will be changed ,for the better. Yes it may not be easy to forgive, but the Lord grants us the grace, to enable us to forgive. [Dear God ,you have forgiven us all our sins, help us to forgive those who have harmed us ,or even those we love, in Jesus name . Amen ]