As I walked last night the Lord spoke to my heart about forgiveness. Matthew 6:12 says, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Forgiveness is very important to God. From these verses and others such as Matthew 18, it is evident that God is very serious about our willingness to forgive others. What really pricked my heart is that forgiveness must be complete. Superficial, partial, basically, sort-of-forgiving is not enough. The Father wants us to forgive as He is willing to forgive. I had to stop last night and ask the Lord to search my heart and reveal to me any and all that may still be in my heart. It surfaces as bitterness but the soil that nurtures it is failure to forgive. Completely forgiving cuts off the nourishment that bitterness and rebellion need to survive. The thought that consumed me last night was, What if God held on to my trespasses against Him? You know, what if God sort-of, mostly, pretty much, basically forgave us? Where would we be in this life? Trespasses are can be intentional and unintentional. Can we at least start with allowing that sometimes they did not intentionally hurt us and forgive them for their humanity? Then maybe we could move to the intentional and really search deep in our own hearts and to truly forgive others. Matt 18:23 says, Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Wow! Sobering!
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 02:20:31 +0000
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