Forgiveness

In a crooked way, the ones you blame for your failures are indeed responsible, because it is your unforgiveness toward them that causes you to struggle with obedience to the Lord.

In your efforts to forgive, do not excuse the sin. Do not make excuse for them saying, "Well, obeying the Lord perfectly is impossible. I can't do it, why should I expect them to do it?" This dishonors God. He does not give you anything to do that is too difficult for you. He does not give you anything to do that He will not help you to accomplish. There is no excuse for disobedience. There is only forgiveness.

However, making excuse is not the same as recognizing that all have sinned and fallen short. You are not shocked by the sin, you do not condemn them for it; you recognize that all (including yourself) have sinned. This puts sin in perspective. Their sin is no longer a travesty against you personally; it takes its place as a part of the sin of the world, the sin for which the Son of God had to die. Sin is a tragedy for human beings and a travesty against God. When you begin to feel that the sin of another has been against you personally, you put yourself in front of God and in opposition to your fellow human beings. You must reorient yourself—you are standing side by side with condemned sinners and your only hope, individually and collectively, is grace. You recognize the sin of those on your right and on your left and together you cry out for God’s mercy, together you have received God’s grace through the shed blood of His son, Jesus Christ.

Orient yourself toward the Lord by forgiving those who have hurt you. This will place you a step ahead, out of reach of the biting and devouring behaviors of your fellow sinners.