The Challenge of Forgiveness! Matthew 6:14

Good morning everyone! God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

Wow! The challenge of forgiveness. Have you ever thought you were the only one who apologizes and the other party never does, whether it be your spouse, parent, sibling, friend or whomever? So, what does the Bible say about this?

Matthew 6:14-15 "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."

WOW again! Forgiveness is an unnatural act that we, people, hate to give. Read this poem by D. De Haan - "Oh, what joy and peace we forfeit,
When forgiveness we withhold;
Fellowship with God is broken,
And the heart grows hard and cold."

Jesus is speaking here in Matthew and gives a startling warning about forgiveness: If we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us. Why?

Because when we don't forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God's forgiveness. God's forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means.

Look at Ephesians 4:32 "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified him. Have problems? No, you don't, you are probably letting human nature, sin nature take over and being selfish.

Joseph forgave his brothers and he experienced far greater adversities than you or I will face. He wailed in the temple, that was letting his forgiveness escape the jail (body) in which it was encased. Go wail, let it out, forgive!!!! Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny