Today’s Encouragement is Matthew 6:14-15 NLT “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. [15] But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
IF you forgive-
Jesus reiterates (see v 12 on Jan 8) this hard truth my friends, one we don’t think about very much. Now, I didn’t say it, Jesus did.
Jesus said clearly, …unless we forgive, then God will NOT forgive us! I’d prefer He had said this differently, like maybe… ‘If you don’t forgive others, then you’re on thin ice… God might not forgive you.’ Yeah but no… He didn’t use ‘might’ or ‘maybe’ because… He spoke with Authority. He knew (still knows) EXACTLY what we needed to hear!
We are always wise to accept God’s Word at its face value. That is, read the Word of God and accept it, period. Whether it’s comfortable, whether you like it or not, whether it makes sense to our limited human understanding or not. Remember, God’s thoughts and His ways are not our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Friends, it’s very clear. When we forgive others, we obtain forgiveness. When we refuse to forgive others… we remain unforgiven. Now, it’s our choice… We must choose to forgive others, even THAT person you’re thinking about right now.
What God has forgiven you and me of, is infinitely greater than whatever harm, no matter how deep or painful, another person has done to us. We don’t have to live with them or allow them to continue to hurt us… but we MUST forgive… so that we can be forgiven!
And when God forgives, He forgets (Heb 8:12). We aren’t saying they deserve our forgiveness… but we deserve to be free of the harm they did to us!… And forgiving and forgetting sets us free of that harm!
Father God, we can only do this with Your help. Help us to forgive, to forget, and to be set forever, completely free of the harm done to us. We ask in Jesus’ Name.
[I know, this is the same song from 2 days ago… but it’s THAT GOOD! Please Listen, and please… Forgive!]
Forgiveness
Matthew West
Today’s Encouragement 