Forgiven and Forgiving

"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful"- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV).

Has anyone ever left something of importance in your care, trusting you for its safekeeping? It may have been someone's pet, their home, legal documents, a precious possession or their guarded secret. If so, you have been honored by that person: They trust you. "Whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfect. By this we may know that we are in Him" (1 John 2:5-6). Trust is not doled out, it is earned. Breaches, intentional or not, have to be repaired and, hopefully, the process of building the trust begins anew. Let's look from the other perspective: Has anyone ever proven unfaithful to you, you feel you can no longer trust that person? They've asked for forgiveness and wait upon your acceptance. Remember you, too, have fallen short of His glory. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). There is our example: forgiven and forgiving. Build anew; the relationship will be blessed and stronger.