Forgiveness

How difficult do you find it to forgive someone? Can you do it at the drop of a hat? Or does it take some time for you to cool down? In order for us to fairly answer this question one must look at the transgression that took place. The difference in the transgression can and will affect most peoples judgment on the timeline to forgiveness. Never-the-less, you must forgive…irregardless of how difficult this might be.

Take heed in this verse from Matthew:

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

(Matthew 6:14-15 KJV)

Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant is another good example of what we're talking about here:

21Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

24When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him whoowed him ten thousand talents;

25and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

27And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

28But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.'

29So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'

30He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt.

31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.

32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me;

33and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant,as I had mercy on you?'

34And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.

35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart

MATTHEW 18:21-35 (RSV)

The bottom line is this ---

If you cannot forgive others of their trespasses then God will not forgive you of yours. We are not here to judge, that is for the Lord to decide. In the end, we will all answer for our actions. I see our time on earth is being a "dry run" of sorts, and either we pass or we fail the test. Passing means we enter in to the Kingdom of Heaven...and failing, well let's just say that you don't want to know whats behind "Door #2" if you know what I mean.

So let's continue with the bottom line -

We are born into sin and none of us are without sin in our lives. It is a daily commitment that one must strive to think (of God's words) before we act. It is a difficult journey, but I believe that the destination is worth every earthy hardship there is to endure.

I will leave you with a passage from the book of John:

John 8:1-11 (New International Version)

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Remember…God will never abandon you. Never loose faith in Him.

"Through God all things are possible."

God Bless you. And this is for HIS Glory!