BEFORE TIME: Day 5
Day 5 — God’s Love Revealed Through Pre-Forgiveness
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
— Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)
God’s Love Revealed Through Pre-Forgiveness
This verse brings forgiveness out of theory and into everyday life. Paul does not say if someone deeply wounds you someday; he says, “if anyone has a complaint against another.” In other words, forgiveness is meant to operate in ordinary moments—misunderstandings, disappointments, sharp words, and unmet expectations. This is where pre-forgiveness becomes essential. Once again, Scripture gives us the pattern: “even as Christ forgave you.” Forgiveness is never presented as something we must manufacture from our own emotional reserves; it flows from a finished reality.
Christ forgave you fully, freely, and finally—before you could fix anything. That forgiveness was settled before you were born and before the earth was created. Now, that same forgiveness becomes the way you live. Pre-forgiveness means you decide ahead of time how you will respond. You choose in advance that offense will not be your default, that bitterness will not be your companion, and that grace will have the final word.
When you live this way, you forgive before resentment forms and before bitterness takes root. Pre-forgiveness quietly removes the subtle but powerful “you’re wrong and I’m right” mindset that fuels pride. Instead of positioning yourself as the judge, you remain postured in humility, remembering that you live by mercy, not by moral superiority.
This shift is deeply freeing. You no longer need to build mental cases against others or rehearse why you are justified in being offended. You stop keeping score. You stop measuring fault. You begin to “bear with one another,” making room for humanity, weakness, and growth—just as God made room for you. Pre-forgiveness keeps your heart soft because it refuses to elevate self-righteousness over love.
This does not mean ignoring wisdom, boundaries, or truth. Pre-forgiveness is not denial—it is freedom. It means your heart stays aligned with God’s love regardless of how others respond. You live from grace instead of reaction, from mercy instead of measurement, and from love instead of pride.
Today, you are invited to practice pre-forgiveness intentionally. As interactions unfold—at home, at work, or even in your own thoughts—pause and remind yourself, “I forgive even as Christ forgave me.” Let that truth guide your response. When forgiveness leads, love remains visible, and pride loses its power. God’s love is revealed most clearly when grace flows before offense ever takes hold.
Prayer
Father, thank You that Christ forgave me completely and freely before I ever deserved it. Thank You that this forgiveness is now the way I live. Today, I choose pre-forgiveness. I choose humility over pride, grace over judgment, and love over offense. Remove any “I’m right, they’re wrong” thinking from my heart, and let Your love be revealed through my responses and relationships. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Promise 1467
God promises eternal life to those who believe in His Son.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
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