After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who showed him the remains of a badly damaged tree in front of her house. She bitterly cried that the tree was a casualty of Federal artillery fire. She wanted Lee to condemn the North or at least sympathize with her loss. After a brief silence, Lee said, “Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it.”

Before God, we stood condemned. Satan pointed his finger and accused us of “damaging” God’s holiness.

But God answered with a cross, giving His own Son to take the penalty for our sins. To Satan’s accusations, God said, “Cast them down, Evil One. I have forgotten them.”

Because Christ forgave us, we should also forgive those who wrong us. You may say, “But you don’t know what so-and-so did to me!” This is true, but I do know that Jesus did far more for you than anyone did against you. It is better to forgive the injustices of the past than to allow them to remain, let bitterness take root and poison the rest of our lives. Commit the injustices of the past to Christ. He’s already forgiven you—what are you waiting for?