Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

“Forgive one another as Christ forgave you.” I’ve heard that before, as well as all kinds of theological arguments about exactly what that means. But I don’t believe Paul was making a theological statement here, and I shouldn’t read it as such. Instead, I stop to ponder on “as the Lord forgave you.” How did he forgive me? At great personal cost, for one thing. By acknowledging, not minimizing, my trespass. Out of love.

When there has been an offense against me, instead of cudgeling myself to forgive someone, I want to remember just how Christ forgave me and, in humble gratitude, do the same.