Under the cover of a dark Philip pine night, three teenagers broke into a van owned by a Christian woman. The trio stole some clearly identifiable items and later sold them on the street. Soon the police were notified about the sale of the stolen goods, and the boys were arrested.

So what did the woman do? Seek revenge against the young thieves? No, she visited them in jail, started a Bible study with them, and led each of them to faith in Christ! Then she asked for permission for them to be let out of jail under guard each Sunday to go to church with her.

When someone does something against us, it's easy to think it's okay to get back at our oppressors. After all, we suffered genuine trauma and real loss. Somebody ought to pay! But Christ teaches a better way than revenge. We are to follow the pattern of forgiveness that God has shown to us. Jesus' words on the subject are startling in their implications: "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:15).

Our ability to forgive is a clear test of faith. One of the ways we see Christ's grace at work in our lives is through the forgiveness we extend to others. We demonstrate that we are God's children when we forgive like the Father.  — Dave Branon