An awful lot of terrible things can happen in life,to awful to even contemplate,and yet it happens,and yet we are told to forgive.Every day people pray the Lord's prayer,possible not really thinking about what they are saying especially when they come to the words,'Forgive us our sins,for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.' ( Luke 11 v 4).It is easy for all of us to say those words,but to put them into practice that's another matter,we have examples in the the Bible of people doing terrible things,an example of that is in the life of Joseph. His brothers hated him to the point that they wanted to kill him,they were serious about it,he was the favourite son of Jacob,it is very worth while to read the life of Joseph .( Genesis 37 -50)You may know the story. His brothers did him wrong didn't kill they sold him into slavery,that was bad enough but his troubles did not stop there a wicked woman accused him of trying to rape her,she was angry that he had rejected her advances,so he was wrongfully imprisoned,.At no point do we hear Joseph crying out for vengeance.Instead when it was in his power to punish these people he forgave them.Of course the greatest example of forgiveness is shown by Christ whom we crucified.And yet in the midst of all that awfulness we hear our Saviour saying,'Father forgive them,for they do not know what they were doing'. (Luke 23 v34 ) One person has said the following,' Others may have in their hearts the unforgiving spirit; others may sin in ignorance; but we know better; we are Christ's men and women; and we must forgive as He forgave'.
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