But one whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for
indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did so for your
sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 so that no advantage would be taken of us
by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Forgiveness may be the hardest thing many of us do in our
lifetimes especially if there has been deep suffering. We battle with our
memories and fight against our flesh for wanting the person to suffer just as I
did or more than I did because of what he did to me. Being so vulnerable is a
way for the enemy to take a stronghold on your life.
We forgive because he first forgave us: “Be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you”
Ephesians 4:32. We forgive because God crushed his Son for our forgiveness. He
canceled “the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This
he set aside, nailing it to the cross” Colossians 2:14
God disarmed Satan and all his armies at the cost of His son
so what we need to do is forgive. It can be extremely difficult, but this is
what I know. Without God, I could not forgive what was done to me. Knowing who
Satan is and what he wants and how he works, through reading God’s word, I
chose to stand in Victory because of what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus was
broken for all of us and His blood covers a multitude of sins.
God chose to forgive, and I need to do the same so I will
not be tricked and used by the enemy because I am not ignorant to his evil
plans. I will forgive and be a peacemaker. The cross made this possible for me
to forgive. I will not play into Satan’s hands, to reinforce the battle that is
before me and join his cause. I will choose Jesus. Jesus said, “If you forgive
others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you
do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses” Matthew 6:14–15 For this point alone I will not separate my life
from my Father in heaven, from Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
I need to understand that when people choose a path of
ungodliness, this path alone will cause to be a detriment to a person’s
life. I will stand on God’s word and
have Him fight for me even if I tirelessly forgive again and again.
Believers are to be obedient in all things. I am called to
forgive, even though it may be tough, I am to show forgiveness with love and
concern, hoping to win them to Jesus, anxious for repentance. If your brother
sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
Luke 17:3
Do not let Satan should take advantage of you. Paul knew
this was of special concern because Satan looks to take advantage of our
mistakes whenever he can.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, Ephesians 6:12.
The spiritual forces of evil breed bitterness and dissension. But we, those
forgiven by God, defy and defeat them by wielding the precious and dangerous
weapon of forgiveness. When we are ignorant of Satan’s strategies, he is able
to take things from us that belongs to us in Jesus, things like peace, joy,
fellowship, a sense of forgiveness, and victory.
Satan’s strategy against the sinning man was first focused
on lust, then he used hopelessness and despair. Satan’s strategy against Paul
was to simply make him so stressed and upset over the Corinthian Christians
that he lost peace and was less effective in ministry. Calvin defined these
devices as “the artful schemes and tricks of which believers ought to be aware,
and will be if they allow the Spirit of God to rule in them.”
The Holy Spirit made me aware of Satan’s strategy against me
and the future I had planned. I will not let him have a foothold in my life. I
will lean on God and He will fight for me, I only have to be silent, Exodus
14:14. I will not need to fight in this battle. I will Stand firm, hold my
position, and see the salvation of the Lord on my behalf, I will not be afraid
tomorrow I will go out against my enemy and the Lord will be with me.” 2 Chronicles 20:17
