Skip to main content

Choose to Forgive, to Be Forgiven!!!

I believe that there are few things in this world that are more precious to us than receiving forgiveness. After carrying the burden of our sin, it is awesomely freeing to know that the One we have wronged has completely forgiven us. Jesus told His disciples to ask God for forgiveness every time they prayed. Jesus knew that we would daily incur debts against God, as we always fall short of God's standards. A day does not go by that we do not need to ask God to remove our debt against Him. However:

"And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Matthew 6:12

Jesus has warned us that we should expect forgiveness from God as we forgive those who sin against us, for God will forgive us in the same way we forgive others. (Matthew 6:15). God's nature is forgiveness. If we are to be His disciples, we must follow His example. If God will forgive our most relentless enemy, we can do nothing less. Jesus did not say that certain offenses are unworthy of our forgiveness. We have no biblical excuse for allowing unforgiveness in our hearts. We sin against our God when we take the position that we can never forgive others their actions against us, no matter how horrific or tragic their actions upon us might be. As God forgives us, so we are to forgive. Don't expect forgiveness, if you cannot give forgiveness!

If you choose to withhold forgiveness from someone, Jesus says your worship and prayers are futile. (Matthew 5:23-24). Ask God to make you aware of those dark corners in your life when you are harboring resentment or bitterness. An awareness of your own need for forgiveness will put the offenses of others in their proper light. Ask God to make you like Christ so that, even when you are being persecuted, you can pray "Father, forgive them."

May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thinking About Calling Down Fire!?!

James and John were refered to as "the Sons of Thunder" in the Bible. When they discovered a Samaritan village that would not receive Jesus, they were fully prepared to call down fire to consume the entire community. "And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" Luke 9:54. Maybe they felt that through such a show of power, the gospel message might be enhanced. The two brothers were willing to sacrifice the lives of the village in order to further the cause of the gospel. However, Jesus rebuked them! Later, the apostles heard that Samaria had responded to the gospel. Guess who was commissioned to go and help them receive the Holy Spirit? None other but Peter and John! It was God's purpose that the people not be destroyed but saved! God chose not to rain down fire on the village, but to shower it with His Holy Spirit! I wonder what w...
6 comments
Read more

Restoration From Our Shepherd!!!

These are very trying times we live in today. Things are happening around us so fast that it is sometimes difficult to know where to go or where to turn. We can easily become stressed and weary of doing the same old grind, day after day, uncertain about what is lying just around the next corner. Well, our Shepherd knows!! He knows our every need, our every hurt, our every pain. He knows that we will grow weary in our pilgrimage with Him as well. He knows that there are times when we need to rest. Our Shepherd also knows what we need to be refreshed. At times, we do need to lie in lush meadows or beside quiet streams. Sometimes we need to be held by our Shepherd. At other times we need to enjoy the pleasures the Shepherd provides. And, our Shepherd will not always replenish us the same way; His response to us will always correspond to our present need, if we will ask Him. "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Psal...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sunday Sermon: Easter!!!

Easter Sunday! “I Know That My Redeemer Lives!” Scripture: Job 1,2,13,19:25-26,23 Introduction: You may never have heard of Robert King Merton, the Columbia University sociologist who died in 2003, but I will bet that you have heard some of the phrases he coined like, self-fulfilling prophecy, and unintended consequences. I would like you to know that it was Merton that invented focus groups and popularized serendipity. Serendipity, by the way, means the accidental discovery of something pleasant, valuable, or useful. It was Merton who coined the phrase role model to describe someone who provides an example of popular behavior. The term may be new, but the concept is as old as the Bible. I would like to say that if you want a role model of someone transformed by the message of Easter, you can find it in the book of Job. You might be saying, “Job!?!” “But he lived before Christ.” Guess what? You are exactly right! But the book of James chapter 5 verse 10-11 tell us that Job is a role mo...
Post a Comment
Read more