Forgiveness Brings Freedom - Forgiving Others

My brother and I and some friends once went tubing down a river near where I grew up.

In the course of this adventure we had a few mishaps.

I tried to kick a branch out of my way only to have it launch me off my tube into the water.

A friend almost got lost down a fork in the river.

Then there was one of us, I honestly don’t remember who, that fell off his tube, got his foot stuck between two rocks and scared us all to death.

I can’t tell you how much freedom he felt pulling his foot out and coming to the surface.

Unforgiveness leaves us trapped and drowning in our own anger and bitterness.

The only way to find freedom is to forgive.

There is a book in the bible, called Philemon, and it is short.

It has 1 chapter and only 25 verses.

Yet this book is powerful.

It is all about forgiveness.

Paul writes to Philemon about a slave who robbed Philemon and ran away.

This slave, Onesimus, met Paul, came to Jesus, and is now returning to Philemon.

Paul encourages Philemon to forgive Onesimus.

He gives several reasons for why Philemon should forgive.

One of them is because of the effect that forgiveness will have.

Philemon 20 NKJV

20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

Paul’s statement here is of the joy and refreshment he will feel when Philemon forgives Onesimus.

Freedom will come through this forgiveness.

I see at least three freedoms that will come from this forgiveness

Freedom for Onesimus to serve.

Freedom for Paul to have joy.

Freedom for Philemon to care for others.

Until we forgive, we may never know the freedom we are missing.

Not just for ourselves, but for others as well.

Forgive and experience the freedom forgiveness offers.