For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)
I struggled through math in high school and I’ve found it to be the least favorite of subjects among my children. Still, numbers play a key role in our every day life, especially when it comes to forgiveness.
Had it not been for forgiveness, life as I know it would be an entirely different equation.
No forgiveness = no friends.
No forgiveness = no marriage = no children = no family.
No forgiveness = no church
No forgiveness = no community.
The idea of a world without forgiveness is grim, but the idea of a God without forgiveness is hopeless.
I hope I never forget the debt I owe Jesus. Phrases like while I was in my sin…none righteous…and filthy rags help me keep things in perspective, but there’s this thing called pride that blinds and distorts what I know and how I feel, and sin can make me a forgetful hearer (read my previous post here).
God requires the forgiven to forgive (read Matthew 18:23-35). Unfortunately, many (including myself) fall for the age old lie that Gods Word doesn’t apply to our particular situation.
You don’t understand. There’s no way. They hurt me too bad.
They don’t deserve to be forgiven.
If I forgive them they won’t get what they deserve.
I can’t forget what they’ve done to me!
I refuse to forgive.
If you do the math, those numbers don’t add up.
Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Gods forgiveness toward us = our forgiveness of others.
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard…how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it means to refuse Gods mercy for ourselves.”
C.S. Lewis
Not everyone who hurts or offends us deserves our forgiveness, but God does, and He designed things this way for our good, and ultimately His glory.
Lord,
May I forgive others with the same forgiveness that You have extended to me.
In Jesus Name
Boy…did this come at the right time. Thank goodness for second chances. And for HIS love, mercy and grace. Where would we be without HIM?