“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31‭-‬32
Malice, slander, clamor (shouting), anger, wrath, bitterness=unforgiveness; while kindness, tender-hearted=forgiveness.
What a great list of characteristics that totally expose the true condition of our hearts! The truth told, many of us refuse to forgive because we refuse God’s forgiveness towards us. If we’ve truely recieved God’s forgiveness and cleansing, we WANT TO FORGIVE-its a natural progression! The second (sad) truth is that many worship our right to be angery or to harbor undorgiveness INSTEAD of worshipping God. In other words, “I have a RIGHT TO FEEL THIS WAY, and my rights take precedence over God’s commands that we forgive each other.
In the end, unforgiveness on my part, only hurts me-it never does a thing to the person I’m mad at! So, what’s more important? God’s forgiveness or my right to hold a grudge? Think about it!