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THE ART OF FORGIVENESS Read: Luke 15:11–24 Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 9–11; Luke 15:11–32 While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his , threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 One afternoon I spent two hours at an art exhibit—The Father & His Two Sons: The Art of Forgiveness—in which all of the pieces were focused on Jesus’s parable of the prodigal (see Luke 15:11–31). I found Edward Riojas’s painting The Prodigal especially powerful. The painting portrays the once wayward returning home, wearing rags and walking with his head down. With a land of death behind him, he steps onto a pathway where his father is already running toward him. At the bottom of the painting are Jesus’s words, “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion” (v. 20 kjv). I was deeply moved by realizing once more how God’s unchanging love has altered my life. When I walked away from Him, He didn’t turn His back, but kept looking, watching, and waiting. His love is undeserved yet unchanging; often ignored yet never withdrawn. We all are guilty, yet our heavenly Father reaches out to welcome us. We all are guilty, yet our heavenly Father reaches out to welcome us, just as the father in this story embraced his wayward . “Let’s have a feast and celebrate,” the father told the servants. “For this of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (vv. 23–24). The Lord still rejoices over those who return to Him today—and that’s worth celebrating! Father, as we receive Your love and forgiveness, may we also extend it to others in Your name. God’s love for us is undeserved yet unchanging. 
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I find it harder to forgive what is done to my family and friends, more than what is done to me. And I've learned that forgiveness is not an emotion, it is a decision and action. Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.
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It is painful when someone has hurt you especially since you are a child those memories always come to your mind, it is very painful ... and it is very difficult for you to forgive, but as Christians we have to forgive, it is a rather long process with which you have to fight, and always remember the word of God we must do it for love to Him who gave everything for us sinners. love Marbella
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JW, we are all guilty of not living up to the perfection that God sets before us as a standard. It is referred to as sin, but it can also be described as just missing the mark that God set for us. I couldn't live up to that, but God knew it and devised the plan for Jesus to come to earth as a man, and live up to all those standards, as a man. But He didn't stop there. The punishment for sin is eternal death, or hell. So Jesus died on the cross and went to hell, where he took the punishment for me and all of mankind. Then, He arose and sits on the throne by the right hand of God, where he still helps me with intercession for me with the Father. When I received Him and that forgiveness, I was adopted into the family of God, I didn't understand much of any of it. I still don't understand it all. What I do know is that I am a child of God, and when I do something wrong in His eyes, I can talk to Him and ask for His forgiveness..... and because of what Jesus did for me, that forgiveness is there. Therefore, it is only fitting that I walk in that state of forgiveness towards other people. It's not an emotion.... it is a decision. And I am still not perfect in it.... and I may never be. But I keep trying. Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.
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