I guess today will be a good
day to write, on the needfulness of forgiveness. Not only this day, but this
moment, because I am still stewing over something, which happened a couple
hours ago. I am not the kind of person, who can afford the luxury, of holding a
grudge. In times past, if I were to hold onto something, it would cause me to
implode. Have you ever imploded? Worst than that, have you ever saw a
Christian who imploded?
I think that we need to look
at a forgiveness specialist, and hear some of the things, that He has to say
about forgiveness. The reason that Jesus qualifies, as a forgiveness specialist
is because, He has forgiven more people, than anyone else. I personally have
been forgiven for quite a few things, and still can’t acknowledge the
extremity, of the bottom of Jesus forgiveness list, and those are just my
wrongs!! That is a serious thought,
don’t you think?
On day Jesus had healed those
who were sick of the palsy in the presence of certain Scribes, and they started
to hate on Jesus, in their hearts. Ain’t
Jesus cool? He knew what they were
thinking, because He said to the man;
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the
palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
After Jesus shared a few
choice words with the Scribes, these words were His bottom line of speech.
Mark 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath
power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to
the sick of the palsy,)
I always like to qualify the
power of Jesus Christ, because I can never know, when someone who has not came
to the saving knowledge of Christ, might be dropping by, for a visit. Although,
I do aim mostly, for those that has had a relationship, even though it may be a
bit strained, at the moment. The great thing is that Jesus can forgive, our
part of the separation, and it is all our part!!
One day Peter asks Jesus, a
question about forgiveness. He asks Him how many times, that he should forgive
a brother who has trespassed against him? Then Peter tried to answer his own
question, by saying seven times. Then
Jesus simply blows Peters little finite mind by saying:
Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy
times seven.
I don’t think that Peter ever
saw that one coming, nor the story that Jesus told him next. It is a familiar
story, about the king, that started looking at the debt, that was owed him.
There was this one guy who owed a lot of money, and when the king confronted
the man, he begged for mercy. The king had compassion, and forgave this man his
debt.
This man found another man
who owed him just a few dollars, and had this man cast into prison. The king
eventually heard of these actions, and had the man brought back, before the
king. The king ask this man, should he not have had mercy, on the other man the
same, as the king had on him? Then he got very angry, and had the man
delivered, to the tormentors, until he could pay back, all of the money.
(Matthew 18:23-35)
I want to draw your attention
to this last verse, in this passage, where Jesus is telling this story. There
are several really good verses in the Word of God why that we should forgive,
with positive results. However, this is the best one that I have found with a
negative result.
Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also
unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their
trespasses.
I don’t think I am either
bold, defiant, or stupid enough, to cross Father on this reality. I might would
have tried it before I had seen it laid out, before my eyes, in red and white.
If that is really not bad enough, I need to show you something else, which
simply seals that deal.
How many times do we think,
that we have recited the Lord’s Prayer? It was probably one, of the first
repetitive forms of speech, that I learned, after I started putting sentences
together. I am sorry, because when I was a child, we still praised God, in the
American public. I know that I am getting older.
Matthew
6:9-13 After this manner
therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Although, I believe this a
model prayer, often times we do quote it, word for word. If you will take note,
of verse number twelve, because it says; forgive us as we forgive others. That sounds pretty conditional to me. What do you think? Not only does it sound conditional,
immediately after Jesus said this prayer, he affirms that it is conditional, in
the next two verses that He says.
Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.
Well once again, the
Word of God has convinced me to simply forgive, in this situation. Ain’t God Awesome?
….Much Love
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