Only God Can Do It

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. —2 Corinthians 5:18

Paul knew the wonder of God’s redeeming grace as well as anyone. Once a great persecutor of Christ and His Church, he was forgiven a debt beyond his ability to repay. More than that, he became a joint-heir with Christ, an undeserving recipient of all God’s riches in Christ Jesus.

The rest of the apostle’s earthly life was poured out to help others experience and extend this amazing grace that reconciles men to God and to one another.

Yes, it should stir us to our core to see just how outrageously costly the forgiveness of our sins was to God. It required Calvary. But it required even more—an act only God could perform. Forgiveness is something only God can do.

If it seems impossible for you to forgive this person who’s hurt you—and who perhaps continues to treat you harshly—guess what? It is impossible—for you! But nothing is too difficult for God; He’s the One who can do the forgiving through you.