If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
Has anyone "sinned" against you?Have they offended you so deeply that you just can't forgive them? How do you think God feels about your sins against Him? Yet He is willing to forgive all--yes ALL--your sins if you just ask. One caveat is noted in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Forgive others. God won't forgive your sin until you or give others. Jesus just taught that same principle in what we call The Lord's Prayer. This is a new concept--one that I did not find in the Old Testament.
- ...and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
There is an Old Testament passage that could be used to include "forgiveness" of others. Solomon wrote about this in Proverbs.
- Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27 (NASB)
Forgiveness is a "good" thing--don't keep it to yourself. Freely give it to others...it will be liberating to you both. I just heard an excellent example of "How To Forgive" in a sermon by Pastor Bob Luhn. He suggested praying out loud...
Lord, I choose to forgive ________ from my heart.
Choice is the key to our thoughts, words and actions in all of life. Choose wisely. This prayer will release bitterness from your heart--and heal your relationship with another person...and thus heal your relationship with God. God knows you...He knows your heart. Allow Him to set you free from your sins by forgiving others who have offended you.- "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Jeremiah 31:34 (NASB)
The Cross from Medjugorje - shows Jesus devotion and submission--His willingness to die for our sins.
Of course the first step is knowing Jesus as Lord of your life. Is He your Messiah...your Savior? Ask Him to come into your life...to forgive you from your sins because His death on the cross was for that--the forgiveness of sins of all mankind.
- For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
That forgiveness and eternal life is gift from God the Father--you just have to believe to receive that initial forgiveness. Then life goes on...forgive others and you will be forgiven. We're human...we keep on sinning--but hopefully less as we learn more about Jesus and become more like Him. Have you got His forgiveness?
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© 2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
GqqqAll scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. www..org/daily reading.
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