O, what love arises within;
O, what peace when freed from sin
O, what joy does Christ then give,
When we forgive and in Him live.

For there is joy in every case,
Where sin and judgment have no place;
And Christ reveals His power to save,
The very worst in earth who rave.

And as the thief upon the cross;
Who now was facing final loss;
Eternal love was yet there shown
Amid his pain and every groan.

Our hardened hearts cannot forgive;
And find the Love when in Him live;
Till pride and vengeance flees away
And in His Love we’d ever stay.

Till Jesus softens our old hearts,
And the old nature then departs;
With what joy the angels sing
That makes the vaulted heaven ring.

The lowly Jesus then we see,
From every sin our hearts’ made free:
Who gave Himself, and showed the Way,
Where Love shall reign in the Great Day.

Who on the cross in sweat and blood;
Endured the Death of sins old Flood;
When vengeance struck Him in our stead,
And gave Himself unto the Dead.

But Love has triumphed o’er His grave
For them in Love He has forgave;
We hear His dying words again,
“Father, forgive them in My Name.”

Therefore, my children, be ye kind;
A tender heart be of your mind;
Be ready to always forgive;
And you in Jesus then shall live.

Copyright, 2007
O. Allen Bailey

This material may be freely copied and distributed, but it shall not be altered of sold in accordance with copyright laws.

“…And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour…” Eph 5:32-33.

“…This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts…”Gal 5:16-24.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice..” Eph 5:31.

“…12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…” Matt 6:12.

“…14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses…” Matt 6:14-15.

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love…”Eph 4:15-16.

“…21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth…” Rom 14:21-22.

“…21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand…” Rom 15:21.

“…10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth…” Luke 15:10.

“…31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found…”Luke 15:31-32.

“…32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses…” Matt 18:32-35.

“…4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house…” Matt 9:4-6.

“…3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost..” Tit 3:4-5.

“…32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35 I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.…” Acts 20:32-35.