Robes Of Forbearance And Forgiveness

Let us muse today from Colossians 3:13 and all dressed up with somewhere to go. If one has put on Christ the new man there will be manifestations of the robes of forbearance and forgiveness. The word forbear means to hold back. God is forbearing towards sinners and often to Saints. He holds back his judgment, which is called mercy. Mercy is holding back what one deserves. Life often gives us the opportunity to display this robe from the new man. The next robe is forgiveness. When we are grieved or attacked fasley we must refuse to retaliate, but we must also forgive. The word means to grant a pardon and then  forget it. We must be ready to forgive even if it is never asked for. If you failed to forgive you opened the door for a root of bitterness to spring up in your heart.