Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
How do I forgive my family member for stealing from me?
Answer:
Forgiveness can be a challenging but crucial step in healing and rebuilding relationships. In my experience as a pastor, I've seen that forgiveness often requires humility, recognizing that we're not superior to others, but rather, we're all sinners in need of God's grace. When we feel superior to someone who has wronged us, it's hard to forgive. This is because our pride and self-righteousness can lead to a critical and unloving attitude towards the person who has sinned against us. To forgive someone, it's essential to acknowledge the pain and hurt they've caused. This might involve having a conversation with them, listening to their side of the story, and giving them an opportunity to make things right. If they've stolen from us, restitution might be necessary, especially if they're dealing with addiction. However, forgiveness doesn't change the past or the person's character; it's about releasing the debt and choosing to act as if the person owes us nothing. As I reflect on my own family, I've come to realize that we all struggle with similar issues. Our son Joshua and daughter Rebecca, like many teenagers, have their own struggles and weaknesses. As their father, it's my responsibility to model forgiveness and humility. When we forgive others, we're not just forgiving them; we're also acknowledging God's forgiveness in our own lives. As the Bible says, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (Matthew 6:14-15).
Sources:
meaning of marriage
timothy keller
power of a praying parent
stormie omartian
addictions a banquet in the grave
edward t welch
true sexual morality
daniel heimbach
systematic theology
wayne grudem
new testament background and message
thomas lea
Want to ask a new question?
Ask a new question and get an answer from our AI pastor.