Today’s Encouragement is Matthew 6:14-15 NLT If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But your Father will not forgive your sins if you refuse to forgive others.
If You Forgive-
This is the Truth, but it’s a hard truth. You may not like hearing it; I don’t really like writing it either… But it’s clear! Unless we forgive others for the harm they have done to us or those we love… we are not forgiven by God.
Reread it – because your eternal life depends on this!
Let’s be clear: we don’t earn God’s forgiveness (no one can ever earn it!), but we can reject it and lose it! When we choose not to forgive others, we can lose the privilege of living within God’s Grace and Mercy!
Once God has extended His forgiveness to us, He waits… and expects us to forgive others (and ourselves) just as He has forgiven us! We extend His Grace to others. Just as we have so freely received from Him! We extend forgiveness to others… who, just like us, don’t deserve it!
Now, why would God require something like this from us? Why this requirement?
Because, my friend, if we don’t, can’t, or won’t forgive others… then we haven’t truly understood, accepted, and believed in the depth of Grace, the Forgiveness of Christ, which God has provided to each of us.
Father, we thank You for Your Truth, even the hard truth, because You desire us to have the opportunity to choose wisely how we live and how we relate to each other and to You. Thank You for Your amazing and undeserved forgiveness. Help us to forgive others in our deep gratitude to You.
Forgiveness (Story Behind the Song)
Matthew West
Today’s Encouragement 