The main thing God wants from us is a proper attitude. One of the most important attitudes we can have is forgiveness, for Jesus has more parables on forgiveness than on any other attitude. For this reason we should look at the steps to forgiveness.
The first step to forgiveness is to do good to our Satan. Jesus said, “And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” Solomon stated “If thine enemy be hungry give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty give him water to drink.” (Prov. 25:21) Jesus again said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you . . . (Matt. 5:44).
Another step in forgiving our enemies is praying for them. “Pray for them which dispitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44) Jesus told Peter to forgive his brother seventy times seven. (Matt. 18:21-2). This means pray that God will help us forgive our satan seventy times seven for each irritation from our foe. In “The Power of Positive Thinking,” Dr. Peale mentions a case where a man prayed every night for several months that God would give him the strength to forgive a certain person. After doing this daily for several months, he no longer felt angry towards this person. Thus to forgive others we must constantly pray for them.
Sometimes it helps us to remember that all our foes are given to us by God. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) This means our opponents are given to us from God, a fact that godly men of old knew. After Jacob died, Joseph told his brothers that God’s hand was behind selling him to Egypt. “But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive.” (Gen. 50:20) When Shimei cursed David, “the king said . . . so let him curse because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David.” (2 Sam. 16:10) Lastly, Christ was aware that his enemies were from God. “Then said Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me ? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above . . (Jn. 19:10-11) It helps us forgive our foes to realize that they are given to us from God for a reason.
We must forgive others if we expect God to forgive us. Several things can help us forgive. Firstly, we need to do good to our enemies, so that we will learn to love them. Secondly, we must pray without ceasing that God will help us forgive them. Thirdly, we must remember that God gives us our enemies that good will come.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One