Welcome to Paul Tripp's Wednesday's Word podcast.

I'm Dalton from the Paul Trip Ministries team, and each week I'll read aloud Paul's

popular Wednesday's Word devotional, short, powerful reflections that connect the transforming

power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

You can get each week's devotional straight to your inbox by subscribing

at paultrip.com slash Wednesday or find it any time on our website, the Paul Trip app, or on Facebook

and Instagram. This week, Paul explains why biblical forgiveness never ignores or excuses wrong,

but begins by entrusting the offense to God before moving toward loving, grace-filled confrontation.

Here's this week's Wednesday's word.

Last week, we defined forgiveness in a single, simple sentence.

Forgiveness is a vertical commitment followed by a horizontal transaction.

Of course, forgiveness is more complex.

It's rarely an event and almost always a long, difficult process.

But put plainly, when you have been wronged by another person,

you must first give that offense to the Lord before approaching the other person who wronged you.

That said, you still have to follow through on the second part, approaching the person who wronged

you. Quote, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.

If he listens to you, you have gained your brother, end quote. Matthew 1815.

Now that we've defined what forgiveness is, let's unpack what it is not.

Forgiveness never calls wrong, right. If wrong were right, forgiveness wouldn't be necessary.

If sin weren't evil and wrong, Jesus would never have had to come. The cross of Jesus Christ

reveals what forgiveness is and what forgiveness requires.

...