Have you noticed recently how in our politically charged world; how regular people choose to get their point across. In a world where anger and division is so real, maybe we should take a cue from many who have found forgiveness, love and peace through their faith in Jesus Christ. Far too often in our culture today we see people angry at each other over many things, some important and some not so much.

We have been busy teaching each other, and even endorsing the mindset, of aggressive advocacy, protest and rejection, but have lost sight of the greatest gifts we can give to our fellow citizens of forgiveness, love and peace. Jesus taught in His earthly ministry, that forgiveness is what we should seek and what we should distribute, not retribution or vengeance. He stated that

Maybe it’s because we are afraid perpetrators will get off scot-free, but God doesn’t work that way. He is a righteous and just God and when we seek His forgiveness for a life lived apart from Him, He graciously gives it through Christ. And because of this, we Christians can give it out liberally to those who offend, reject or chastise us, even if they do it numerous times. This next text in the Bible makes this clear.

Luke 17:4 (NIV) Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

Maybe we should help our children to live forgiven, so that they would be more willing to forgive, instead of evening the score. It’s actually only then that love can flow more generously toward others and then we might live in our world with a little more peace.