Colossians 3:13

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Bearing with one another, does this mean we should take responsibility for other people’s loads and cover for them, or maybe that we should take up the cause and avenge one another?  Galatians 6:1 says- Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing he deceives himself… Here we have the key word but, which cues is into the answer to our question. It continues on in verse 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not another. For each one shall bear his own load. We are called to restore our brother, we are not called to create dependency on ourselves by shouldering someone else’s responsibility or by avenging someone, but rather to help lead them to a dependency only on Jesus Christ.   What about avenging? Romans 12:19 says- Beloved do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written “vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Now let’s continue on to the second half of the verse. How often do we think we have the right not to forgive someone, that we deserve our complaint or anger or fill in the blank against them? Christ died for us while we were still sinners, He took every one of our sins upon himself, forgiving us of all our sins, that is insane, that is unimaginable, and yet that is what he has done for us. He also calls us to forgive those who sin against us as he has forgiven us. To think that someone else has wronged us more than we have sinned against our Savior is arrogant, prideful and wrong. We have true freedom in Christ and to imprison ourselves by not giving up our so called right to not forgive is simply foolish. I personally have had to be forgiven of many many things, and I have also had to forgive others of many things, so I know from experience that it is not easy to forgive, but thank God that we are not called to a Christian life of ease but to one that will point others to the perfect God that we serve.

Application-Christ forgave me of everything and I have no reason other than pride to not forgive those who sin against me, so I will make a point to be a man who forgives. I will bear with my brothers as I have opportunity, helping to show them that vengeance is the Lords and that their goal shouldn’t be to demand their rights, but instead to forgive just as Christ forgave them.