Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 6:11,12,14Then Peter came to Him and said,
“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 18:21,22Do you forgive? Do you truly forgive? Do you practice forgiveness even to the one who has wronged you the most.
As Christians, we can’t afford not to forgive. If as Christians, we truly believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light, that no one can come to the Father but by Him, then we can’t afford not to forgive. The eternal resting place of those around us, depends on us.
If we have unforgiveness in our hearts, then it becomes very difficult to witness. We might even become a stumbling block to those whom we don’t forgive.
To be a Christian is to be like Christ. We must do as He did. Although, He had the right to judge as God, He didn’t.
Jesus forgave the very people responsible for crucifying Him. What more of an example can we have?
Our call is to love even our enemies, listen to the words of Jesus:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
“that you maybe sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
“And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
"Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48In order to love someone, we must be able to forgive them. Thus, Jesus said we must forgive and not keep track of how many times we forgive.
Paul states,
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though Io give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3Something to think about:
Love is the key to forgiving.
Do you love? Do you love even when you hurts. Christ did, he went to the cross.
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