CWW Week 11 - Forgiveness - Day 5
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Forgiveness
Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15 [NKJV]
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Why is it so important for us to forgive those who have hurt us? I mean even to the extent that if we don’t, [notice I didn’t say can’t because of Philippians 4:13 once again, which tells us that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”] that God will not forgive our wrong doings?
What does it mean if God won’t forgive us? Well if that isn’t remedied, and it can be through a change of heart and repentance, then our eternal existence is at risk. A very high price to pay for a lack of forgiveness don’t you think?
We need to play out what happens when we can’t or more importantly won’t, forgive someone. Think of the behaviours that go along with hatred and dislike of others. How do those behaviours stack up to the laws of God; The design principles for living a life planned and delivered by God Himself?
Jesus said that when you look at another person with lust you have committed adultery in your mind. When you hate your brother you are guilty of murdering him. Jesus makes it plain that a thought equals a deed and that makes perfect sense to me because to pretend these thoughts don’t exist is living a lie.
When we cannot forgive, we break most of those design principles for good and righteous living and we breed discontent. God’s laws/design principles are designed to eliminate conflict and support healthy growth and conversation and thus contentment.
So where is the line where forgiveness becomes simply impossible? Does grace only extend so far?
If we are ALL Gods’ children and created in His image; And if Jesus died to save us ALL then who is excluded from Gods’ grace through repentance? Well the answer is nobody. Not even genocidal mass murderers. Jesus the Shepherd wants to find and redeem all His lost sheep.
When you carry hatred and condemnation in your heart, you are not allowing a wound that affects your character, to heal. You remain in a self imposed prison built by you at the expense of real freedom. This is very infectious and debilitating to so many others as well as yourself.
No there are no limits to Gods’ grace because God knows that grace and mercy are vital components to a healthy soul.
The words to the great hymn written by Horatio Spafford, a man who suffered incredible loss in his life, say it all about grace.
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
Life in the Garden of Eden could not have been simpler. Adam and Eve living in perfect harmony with God and their surroundings. Created in love, to love and to be loved, all they had to do was to keep choosing God moment by moment. Free will, a vital component of love, meant that they had to be given a choice. When tempted to ignore God and go there own way, they set a course for mankind that has been a plague ever since.
Every time we make the same choice that they did we start the process all over again. We must break the chain.
Exodus 20:5 (NKJV): demonstrates the perils God speaks of. ”You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”
When the Bible says that the sins of the fathers are visited on the next three and four generations that’s telling us something. The effects of growing up as children of parents who made bad choices is often the fertile ground for their off spring to continue in their behaviour. Often the chain of their iniquity remains unbroken from one generation to the next. And these off spring produce more off spring and the dis-ease of sin continues.
Notice also that the verse refers to this punishment being visited on “those who hate me.”
God makes it perfectly clear. Hatred can lead to eternal death and He also makes it clear that He hates the sin and not the sinner.
The only unforgivable sin is the rejection of The Holy Spirit. Why? Because it is only in His power that we can live in mercy and grace without which Heavens’ doors remain firmly locked.
To understand the importance of forgiveness is to reply on the cornerstone of the foundation of the cross where Jesus converted even the most hardened Roman Centurion when He said in His dying breaths, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Everything God gives us is meant to be shared. How much? Everything.
People only drive you crazy if you give them the keys. Forgiveness is the only way to take back the keys and control of your destiny.The choice, as always is ultimately yours.
Questions
- Are you perpetuating the sins of your parents onto those in your life and are you now ready to break the chain?
- Try and imagine a time in life where forgiveness is automatic and you are totally surrendered to Gods’ grace and mercy? Does it feel different?
- The choice is ultimately yours. Will you serve God in forgiveness of others or continue to follow satan in hatred?
Prayer
Dear Lord, Papa God.
I am tired of dragging the chain of un-forgiveness and hatred of others in my life. The mountain I must climb seem insurmountable in my own strength. Papa I need you to climb this mountain with me. Help me to see your forgiveness of me in every facet of my life and help me to share your mercy with others to break this wretched chain is my prayer in Jesus name. Amen.
Graham Hood.
