It Is In Forgiving That We Are Forgiven

After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. [Acts 14.21-22]

"...Suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God..." Now, there is a topic no one really enjoys considering.

What would those "hardships" be?

First, let's consider something Jesus said that completely supports what Paul and Barnabas preached:

Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. [John 15.20]

The hardships Paul and Barnabas spoke of could only be the mistreatment by others that believers would experience. This is in keeping with the treatment Jesus received while on earth.

Why is this important? Because unless we are mistreated by others, then there is nothing to forgive. If there is nothing to forgive, then we cannot fulfill what Jesus said was essential to being forgiven ourselves - that we forgive!

But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6.15]

Why would we be told to forgive others unless there would indeed be something to forgive?  We would not. 

Any TRUE follower of Christ will suffer mistreatment by others.

The Apostle and writer Paul knew this all too well.

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. [2 Timothy 3.12]

Perhaps we need to stop dreading persecution (mistreatment by others) and begin to embrace it, for it is in our persecution that we find salvation. It is in forgiving that we are forgiven.

Father, the message of forgiveness is becoming clearer and clearer to me as I continue to look for it in Your Word. Thank You.