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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Does the Lord expect Christians to forgive those who deliberately hurt us and turn their backs on us? Even my brothers are against me because I hope to be a preacher someday, and my mom never says anything to them because they’re not Christians, but she expects me to always be the one forgiving and tells me to be more like Jesus. That’s hard to do. – L.F.

A: It was the love of God that put words into the hearts of the prophets, saying, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6, NKJV).

It was the unerring love of God that brought the prophecies into precise fulfillment. On a specific day marked on Earth’s calendar and in a specific place marked on Earth’s map, the Son of God came to this planet.

It was love that prompted the Son of God to reflect the same affection for the world as did God the Father and to show a selfless compassion to the sick, the distressed, and the sin-burdened. It was love that enabled Jesus Christ to become poor that we through His provision might be rich. It was divine love that made Jesus endure the cross, despising the shame, and made Him endure the contradictions of sinners against Himself. It was love that restrained Jesus when He was falsely accused of blasphemy and was led to Golgotha to die with common thieves; He raised not a hand against His enemies. It was nothing but love that kept Him from calling 12 legions of angels to come to His defense.

It was nothing but love that, after every known torture devised by degenerate man had been heaped upon Him, caused Jesus to lift His voice and pray, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34, KJV).

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2026 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2026 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.