Who Do You Need to Forgive Today?

Day 35 Matthew 6:14-15


14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins
(From NIV Life Application Bible p.2007) “One of the most powerful aspects of the prayer Jesus gave us to use, is this petition. Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness: if we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse forgive us. Why? Because when we don’t forgive others, we are denying our common ground we have as sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. (Remember the prayer says, forgive us “OUR” sins). God’s forgiveness is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means. It is easy to receive forgiveness, but often hard to give it to others. Whenever we ask God for forgiveness, we should also ask, ‘who do I need to forgive?’”

Note: God is not saying that you will only be forgiven if you forgive others.  Jesus forgave us all of our sins on the cross before we could do anything.  It is by grace you are saved through faith so no one can boast.  Jesus is speaking in "hyperbole" here, by saying here is now you live the Christian life.  Remember the Sermon on the Mount is how we live in God's kingdom.  Therefore, if you have been forgiven and received how can you not forgive others.  To not forgive others denies that fact that you have been forgiven.  

Who do you need to forgive today as you have already been forgiven for ALL of your sins?


Jesus, we give thanks for your willingly going to the cross, suffering and dying for us. We did not deserve, it but out of love you gave it to us as a gift. Maybe we also likewise forgive those who have sinned against us. Amen. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more