Rick Warren (March 20, 2025) Daily Devotional: How Do You Forgive?
“What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 (CEV)
In January 1956, five American missionaries headed to Ecuador’s rainforest. They were visiting the Huaorani tribe, which anthropologists said was the most vicious, violent society on earth. As soon as the missionaries exited their plane, they were speared to death. The brutal murders of these men, who included Nate Saint and Jim Elliot, made news around the world.
A couple years later, Elisabeth and Valerie Elliot (wife and daughter of Jim Elliot), and Rachel Saint (sister of Nate Saint), moved into the Huaorani village to minister and show love and forgiveness. Eventually, the tribe’s leader and other men who participated in the missionary murders became Christians.
The forgiveness Elisabeth Elliot, Valerie Elliot, and Rachel Saint modeled only makes sense when you have been forgiven by God. So, once you’ve experienced God’s forgiveness, how do you forgive? You do the four things these women did:
Relinquish your right to get even. This is the heart of forgiveness. Romans 12:19 says, “Don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge” (CEV). Even if you think you deserve to retaliate, don’t. Trust God to take care of any repayment.
Respond to evil with good. How can you tell when you’ve completely forgiven someone? When you can pray for God to bless the person who hurt you. The Bible says. “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28 NIV).
Repeat these steps as long as necessary. Peter asked Jesus in Matthew 18:21, “How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?” (CEV). Jesus replied, “Not just 7 times, but 77 times!” (Matthew 18:22 CEV). Sometimes forgiveness has to be continual.
Rescue others with the Good News of God’s forgiveness. Once you forgive the people who’ve hurt you, you’re free to share the Good News of God’s forgiveness with them and with others. The apostle Paul invited people to accept God’s forgiveness this way: “God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. . . . We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20 CEV).
If you’ve been holding on to pain caused by someone else, don’t sit another day in your resentment. Ask God to help you work through your hurt and forgive those who’ve hurt you. Then you can move on to the life you were created to live!
Talk It Over
- What do you learn from how Elisabeth Elliot, Valerie Elliot, and Rachel Saint responded to the murders of their family members?
- Have you been in a situation where you’ve had to forgive someone “not just 7 times, but 77 times Matthew 18 says? What gave you the strength to do that?
- Who in your life needs to hear God’s message of forgiveness, peace, and salvation?
