Forgive and Be Forgiven

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.  Matthew 6:14-15 Amplified

Forgiveness. Forgiveness is the cancelation of debt or obligations. It’s an important concept in Christianity. God has forgiven us…we must forgive others.  Paul taught the church at Colossians… So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:12-14. This was also emphasized to the church at Ephesus… Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32. That “giving up resentment” is so freeing. 

Moses pleaded with God to forgive…to take away the sins of the Hebrew people after they made and worshiped the golden calf (Exodus 32:32). Jesus Himself when He was on the cross pleaded with God the Father to forgive… When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. Luke 23:33-34. 

Forgive-forgive-forgive. Peter asked Jesus a very important question …"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22. Seventy times seven is to be a countless number—you can’t keep track of that many offenses—of all those resentments. That is countless forgiveness. Is there anyone you need to forgive…or to ask for their forgiveness?  

RSVP: Jesus is inviting you to look into your heart today…and seek forgiveness…for others, so that God the Father will forgive you. How will you respond to Him today? 

Prayer ~ Jesus, wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalms 51:2. I thank you for taking my sin to the cross—and for teaching me to humble myself and forgive others…that I, too, would be forgiven.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.