To be a doctor, you have to learn anatomy and the chemical complexity of the human body. You also have to learn many other things through years and years of schooling. Yet an equally important part is to learn the actual work of doctoring. For example, men and women become surgeons by watching and practicing while they're in training. No one would feel comfortable if a physician said, "I have read all the medical textbooks. So I'm ready to operate on you." We want to be sure the doctor has practiced medicine in an internship or residency. No physician is certified until that practical work is done.

Forgiveness is like that. We can read all about God's forgiveness in the Bible. We might know lots of stories about forgiveness. We might be able to give theological explanations on how forgiveness is possible. But that's not enough. Forgiveness is only book knowledge until we accept God's forgiveness in Christ and learn how to forgive others. With the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can learn to forgive, following Christ's example and watching other Christians who forgive as God forgives.

Jesus provided the way for God to forgive us, taught us how we are to forgive, and practiced forgiveness even from his cross. And with his Spirit living in us we can become more and more like him.