Hello all,
Its Sunday, usually a day to reflect and give thanks… and I felt the need to pass along this email I received from my church advisor. I’ve been struggling with the idea of forgiveness lately, for others and myself, and reading this email definitely helped shed light. Whether you are religious or not, the message below can help you if you are confused or having a hard time with forgiveness. xoxo!
What do you think of with the word “forgiveness”?
Is there a person that comes to mind when you hear the word “forgiveness”?
Does it scare you? Like…
“Do I HAVE to forgive?” or…
“I can’t forgive THEM.” or…
“I don’t really want to talk about it. It is unpleasant.”
Well, in the privacy of your own heart, GOD will speak to you. HE will help you.
GOD teaches us about forgiveness in His word.
Remember “The Lord’s Prayer”?
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name…
That’s the easy part. Our Father is in heaven and HE is holy. Amen!
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Yes, Lord! I want YOUR kingdom to come. I want YOUR will to be done. I know YOUR will is best!
Give us this day our daily bread.
Thank You, Lord, that YOU provide for our physical needs. YOU are the One who puts bread on our tables!
Then comes…
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Yes, I want to be forgiven of my debts, my sins. But… as we forgive our debtors?
How DO I forgive my debtors? Have I forgiven my debtors?
Does this mean that IF I don’t forgive my debtors (those who have sinned against me) that I am not forgiven of MY sin? It sounds like I am forgiven AS I forgive – the same way I forgive – as much as I forgive. Am I gracious in my forgiveness or kinda stingy? I know I don’t LIKE to forgive others, because, well, they don’t DESERVE it. Hmmmm… do I deserve to be forgiven of MY sin? I guess not. That’s the nature of sin – UGLY. When I sin my motives are bad. I am usually being selfish. Do I deserve to be forgiven? NO… So… I guess I NEED to forgive others – even though they DON’T deserve it. That’s the nature of forgiveness – undeserved.
Thank You, GOD, that YOU have forgiven me even though I don’t deserve it!!
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:35
So My heavenly Father also will do… What will HE do? Don’t you want to know what comes BEFORE that verse?
And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. Matthew 18:34
Hmmm… That doesn’t sound very nice. LORD, help me to forgive that person I need to forgive.
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Yes, LORD, help me to be tenderhearted – to give the benefit of the doubt. I know I want others to give ME the benefit of the doubt.
HELP me, LORD, to forgive them. Do that work of forgiveness in my heart. After all, it is I who suffers from unforgiveness, not them. I intend that by NOT forgiving them, it will hurt them – because that is what they deserve. But, in reality, oftentimes they don’t even know that I am not forgiving them. I am the one that stews in my own juices. I am the one who is eaten away by the unforgiveness that turns into bitterness. LORD, help me to forgive them.
LORD, I choose to forgive them. THANK YOU that YOU forgive them.
LORD JESUS, forgive me for harboring that unforgiveness. Thank You that You forgive me.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Bask in HIS forgiveness. Shower others with forgiveness. Remind those you love of HIS forgiveness. GOD is gracious and kind and compassionate.
May HE give us HIS compassion for people around us.
Depending on Him,
Marilyn from Monday Night
Tags: Forgiveness
