“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15
Our God is loving, kind and forgiving. This means that one with the biggest fault in the world could come freely to Him, and be forgiven instantly (Luke 15:7). He never holds back His forgiveness from those who ask because of His merciful nature and the great love He has for us.
However, it is quite sad that even when we have such mercies extended to us, we forget what we have received when it’s time to extend that same grace to others. Even with the forgiveness we have received, we find it difficult to forgive others.
God does not want us to live this way. He wants us to extend the same Mercy He has extended to us to others. He wants us to be able to let go of grudges against others no matter what, because He did it for us first. He goes as far as letting us know that lack of forgiveness can make us close the door to receiving forgiveness from Him.
And that, is a terrible thing, because who can help us when God does not forgive and blot out our sins.
Charge: Before you feel entitled to a grudge, remember what was blotted for your sake.
Further Study: Matthew 18:21-35, Isaiah 43:25, Luke 15.
Stay forgiving.
