A preacher went to be with the Lord sometime ago. He laboured so much for the Lord while on this side of eternity. After his demise, the media dug out a scandal he had over two decades and gave it publicity more than his exploits. Mind you, he had repented and confessed publicly. He didn't continue in his sins, had sorted himself with God.

God forgave him but men didn't. I won't be surprised If the writer or editor of that news is a believer. Oftentimes, self righteousness makes people behave this way. We ask for God's forgiveness and he forgives but we humans find it hard to forgive.

We are a people forgiven much but we forgive less

I have observed something in the body of Christ generally. Often, we tend to dwell on the negatives about people especially If it involved moral failure. Even after they have repented and sought God's forgiveness, we still label them. I am glad God is not man.

How do we expect God to forgive us when we have not forgiven men in our hearts and actions? Your hatred for sin should not translate into hatred for people who are committing sin or might have committed sin in the past. If you refuse to forgive, God will not hesitate to forgive them if they repent.

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!" (Psalm 32:1).

Further, you need to know that God can use the vilest sinner who repent. Do not cheat yourself of God's blessings by looking down on vessels whose dirty past or history you know. You don't know when they sort themselves with God.

We believe God forgives little lies, hatred and sins that aren't so obvious but when someone commit fornication or adultery and repent, we think it'll take a century for God to forgive the person. What a paradox! And don't tell me how destructive sexual sins are. I know but we must separate consequences of sin from the forgiveness of sin.

I want you to start seeing God's people through the eyes of grace and not their sins.