If you want to be forgiven. . .then forgive
I was driving home today from the gym and passed a little Methodist church with a sign out front. It said that we should forgive as much as we want to be forgiven. That got me to thinking about whether or not I have forgiven those who have offended me in my life like I want to be forgiven. We all want to be forgiven, immediately and completely and without bringing up past mistakes or sins again. Don't you just hate it when someone brings up a past hurt when they have already said it was forgiven? Aren't you glad God doesn't do that.
In Mark 11:25-26 it says, "and whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgression. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."
I want you to read through the above verses a few times and look at what it says. It tells us that there is no disconnect with God between our own forgiveness of others and God's forgiveness of us. That if we expect to be forgiven, then he expects us to forgive others. That isn't just a principal in this one scripture. If it was maybe we could discount it. You can see this in verses such as Luke 17:3-4; Matt 18:21,22; Eph 4:32. This is the consistent principal throughout scripture.
I think there is even more to the story than this. I think this is why there are so many baby christians in the church today. They want God's forgiveness, but are unwilling to forgive others. So, God stops speaking to them, things grow quiet and God waits. God waits for us as believers to apply what we know scripture says in obedience before giving us more of himself. And sadly, some people stop right there and never grow anymore, walking in disobedience to this command to forgive. Whole churches could be healed, marriages restored, relationships between children and parents healed and friendships restored if we would simply swallow our pride and forgive and forgive and forgive.
So how are you doing with this? Is there anyone you need to forgive? God waits for us to trust and obey His Word.
I want you to read through the above verses a few times and look at what it says. It tells us that there is no disconnect with God between our own forgiveness of others and God's forgiveness of us. That if we expect to be forgiven, then he expects us to forgive others. That isn't just a principal in this one scripture. If it was maybe we could discount it. You can see this in verses such as Luke 17:3-4; Matt 18:21,22; Eph 4:32. This is the consistent principal throughout scripture.
I think there is even more to the story than this. I think this is why there are so many baby christians in the church today. They want God's forgiveness, but are unwilling to forgive others. So, God stops speaking to them, things grow quiet and God waits. God waits for us as believers to apply what we know scripture says in obedience before giving us more of himself. And sadly, some people stop right there and never grow anymore, walking in disobedience to this command to forgive. Whole churches could be healed, marriages restored, relationships between children and parents healed and friendships restored if we would simply swallow our pride and forgive and forgive and forgive.
So how are you doing with this? Is there anyone you need to forgive? God waits for us to trust and obey His Word.
