Forgiving Others {GROW in His Word: Matthew 6:14-15
“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.” Matthew 6:14-15
The choice is yours; forgive or not to forgive. However the scripture also gives us wisdom towards our decision. As we saw in last weeks verse Jesus said we are to forgive up to seventy times seven. There is also a verse that needs to be looked at that may be want to keep in mind as well.
Again, I tell you whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever is loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18
I don’t know about you but that gave me a lot to think about. Not just in choosing to forgive or not but in how I deal with other areas in my life as well. While reflecting on these verses two things come to mind. The first thing may be a little far-fetched or it may just tie into the second thing, I have a feeling they are tied together. It’s a matter of our heart. As a child of God, we will eventually forgive. Sometimes the forgiveness is within the first few minutes and sometimes it takes years but eventually we do forgive. In these two verses there is a point to be made by Jesus that go with the verses in context of The Model Prayer. In a much wider scope, it’s part of The Sermon On The Mount. Jesus’ teaches us (children of God) how to live a life that reflects God, who is in our heart when we accept His gift of Salvation. The second thing that came to mind was from a study I did. While reading over my study notes, it occurred to me that most but not all of life’s disappointments have been from transgressions towards or against me. It has been when I forgive those who trespass against me, that I truly have a reflection of God and of His love. If I do not forgive then I better take a long hard look at myself and with me relationship with God. I do not want my unforgiveness to be bound with me when I get to heaven. I leave you for now with a few questions to ponder over.
When we choice to forgive or not to forgive, Who’s reflection is coming from your heart? God or our old natural sinful self? Have you loosed here on earth by forgiving? Or do you have something that is being bound here on earth because of not forgiving?
” But what if God didn’t just “let it happen?” What if the things we call disappointments are really His appointments–events that God is using in our lives to make us more like Christ? What if, like a refiner, He is using our disappointments like flames to melt and burn away the undesirable elements in our lives, leaving us purer and more radiant–like refined silver?”. -Kay Authur – “As Silver Refined” copyright permission granted by Precept Ministries
In His Love, Crisi
Post linked up to GROW in His Word and at Fellowship Friday .
“When we chose to forgive or not to forgive, Who’s reflection is coming from your heart? God or our old natural sinful self?” <—-I love this. It reminds me of Luke 6:45 "45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." I also loved how you tied this together with Matthew 18:18 and having unforgiveness bound with us in heaven. Thanks for sharing.
The discussion that the group Is having on Facebook is great. You have touched on something that has inspired further reflection. 🙂