When to Forgive, Confront, or Overlook

Evidence of whether we belong to God is how lovingly we forgive others, whether they've said they are sorry or not, whether they've repented or not. A vindictive or unforgiving heart is strong evidence of sin. Sometimes it is beneficial to point out to someone how they have hurt us, but sometimes it is better to overlook the sins of others against us. Don't we want others to offer that same courtesy to us? 

Overlooking, or forgiving, means the issue is something we choose to forget. We do not harbor ill-will or feelings of resentment or frustration. We genuinely move on in love. Leave others to their games and own choices, you do what you're going to do and leave it at that. This is something we need the power of God to do. Remembering that He is just and will work all things out as they should be worked out in His time.

That said, at times God is calling us to love someone enough to be gently honest with them. We should be careful to remove the log in our own eye first so we can see clearly. Have we been guilty of what we're about to confront them with? If so it doesn't negate our ability to be used by God to help the other person, on the contrary, our own humility in admitting what we've done is how we can approach the person we're trying to 'save from themselves'. It is important to seek God's will and follow it--we don't want to ignore His leading and pretend we're overlooking righteously when it is actually avoiding His directive to confront in order to bring someone to repentance. Do what you are going to do and let others do what they are going to do, and leave it at that. This leads to a similar thought.

'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' is not synonymous with 'Do unto others as you have had done to you'. Note the difference. Letting someone off of our hook frees us to love and move forward, but when there is real pain due to someone's sinning against us, this can be extremely difficult. It can help to remember that God sees all and is just, and He has them on His hook. Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord, I will repay, Romans 12:19, God tells us not to avenge ourselves.

Most importantly, if we take time to thank God for what He has given and don't spend too much time on what He hasn't given or on what He's removed, we will be more content people. He is a good God.