FORGIVENESS


 


FORGIVENESS

 

 

OOOPH… Why is it so tough?

 

 

Is it because self-preservation is the strongest human instinct?

 

 

But… if I seek to save my own life, will I also lose it? (Lk 9:24; 17:23)

 

 

I am re-learning this!

 

 

We are taught to pray: “…forgive us our debts, AS we forgive our debtors…”

 

…forgetting the rest of that passage: 

 

“…For if you forgive men their trespasses,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you...”  (Mtt6:10-15)

 

 

Mtt7:2(KJV) “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

 

 

 

In Mtt18:21–35(KJV) Peter says, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him… seven times?“ 

 

Jesus replied, “not seven times… but, seventy times seven.”

 

Christ continues explaining that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a King taking account of His servants. He called in one owing a horrendous sum of money… intent upon selling the servant, his wife, children, and all that he possessed to pay the debt.

 

However… Moved with compassion for the pleading servant, the King FORGAVE IT ALL!

 

Finding a fellow-servant owing him a nominal sum…  the freed servant took him by the throat demanding repayment.  Showing no mercy to the begging servant… he had him thrown into prison.

 

The King, discovering this, brought back the once freed servant saying,

 

“I forgave all that debt because of your pleading.

Should you not also have mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way?“

 

The angered master handed him over to the torturers until all debt was repaid.

 

“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you,

 

if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

 

 

Am I my own, or do I belong to someone else?

 

Wasn’t I purchased by the blood of Christ?

 

Now…

 

No matter the lies told about you… the hurt you felt… the injustices you’ve suffered…

 

Isn’t HE strong enough to take care of this?

 

Since I belong to HIM…

 

Is it HIS problem…

 

…or mine?

 

 

We are not forgiving to earn forgiveness.

 

We are forgiving BECAUSE we’ve been forgiven.

 

 

EVEN AS HE FORGAVE YOU…

 

 

…FORGIVE!


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