I Can Afford to Love You
by Marion Spellman

Jesus said, "Love your enemies...pray for them..." "And when ye stand praying, forgive..." Matthew 5:44; Mark 11:25.

I remember asking myself the question: "How can I forgive the one who has brought so much pain into my life - hurt so deep that my lips cannot even form the words to describe its intensity?" Just thinking about it again, fills my eyes with tears.

With little effort, I still can experience the staggering sensation inside as I wondered, "On what can I possibly build my forgiveness?" The answer was simple yet profound: Yes, I can forgive because I have been forgiven. My sin was so great and yet I have been marvelously saved by the blood shed by Jesus. It was His awesome act at Calvary.

What wondrous mercy, what unconditional love, what divine forgiveness. Hence it is certain, that on Christ the firm foundation, I have the power and even the desire to forgive as surely as night follows day.

Because I have focused on the cross, where Jesus has washed me, cleansed me and covered my sin with His own blood, I am empowered and eager to pour that same forgiveness onto others. Since He does not hold anything against me, I have no right to restrain my sister. The day I gave my life to Jesus, I willingly released all rights to harbor or maintain unforgiveness in my heart. On that same day, I became a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ. As He has forgiven me from the "gutter-most," so I forgive to the "utter-most."

I am persuaded that only heaven can reveal the impact of our obedience to Christ's command to forgive. The act of forgiveness has literally been used to establish and affirm not only our own lives, but to draw sinners to Himself. They who have experienced the sweetness of our forgiveness, certainly will be eager to "taste and see that the Lord is good," even unto the salvation of their very souls. Hallelujah!