“To forgive is to trust God by moving out of the judge and jury seat to the mercy seat of grace and love.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 14, 2024
Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you. Matthew 6:14-15, TLB
In Matthew 6:14-15, we often encounter the staggering words of our Lord Jesus: If I don’t forgive, I cannot be forgiven. Really? Yes! These words are not mere suggestions but divine imperatives that demand our earnest reflection and sincere obedience. Forgiveness, you see, is not an optional addendum to the Christian life. It is central to the Gospel message itself. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. This conditional clause is a stark reminder that our forgiveness from God is inextricably linked to our willingness to forgive others. We are forgiven for heaven when we are saved, but forgiveness on earth is a lifetime of repetition. C.S. Lewis validates this idea, “We believe that God forgives us our sins; but also, that He will not do so unless we forgive other people their sins against us.”
Consider, for a moment, the nature of divine forgiveness. God, in His infinite mercy, extends grace to us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. We, undeserving and guilty, are pardoned and restored to fellowship with Him. This forgiveness is not earned by our merit but is given freely out of God’s boundless love. If we, having received such grace, refuse to extend it to others, we become like the unmerciful servant in Jesus’ parable (Matthew 18:23-35), who, forgiven a great debt, could not forgive a much smaller one.
Why is it so difficult to forgive? Perhaps it is because we cling to our sense of justice and desire for retribution. Yet, holding onto grudges is to poison our own souls. Unforgiveness is a heavy chain that binds us to past hurts and prevents us from experiencing the fullness of God’s peace. To forgive is to release not only the offender but also ourselves from the bondage of bitterness. To forgive is to trust God by moving out of the judge and jury seat to the mercy seat of grace and love.
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring justice or excusing wrongdoing. It means relinquishing the right to exact revenge and trusting God to be the righteous judge. It is a deliberate act of will, often repeated daily, to let go of our anger and choose love instead. In forgiving, we reflect the character of Christ, who, even on the cross, prayed for His persecutors: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Do not deceive yourself into thinking that you can harbor unforgiveness and still walk in the fullness of God’s grace. Examine your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any lingering resentment. Choose today to forgive, as you have been forgiven. In doing so, you will experience the liberating power of God’s love and mercy. In the light of this truth, walk in forgiveness, ever mindful that your own forgiveness is contingent upon your willingness to extend the same grace.
Prayer
Gracious Father, thank You for the immense forgiveness You have shown me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. Remove any bitterness from my heart and fill me with Your love, that I may reflect Your grace to all. Amen.
Application
Sit quietly and ask if you have forgiven yourself from past guilt and shame.
Related Reading
Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 1:18; Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32
Worship Resource
Ben Fuller: If I Got Jesus
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