If You Forgive

Today’s Encouragement is, “and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. "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 6:12,14-15 NLT
 
If You Forgive -
 
Some biblical truth is “hard truth.”  It goes against our human nature to the point of irritation, grating, and even pain.  This is one such truth.  “God forgives us - only if we forgive!”  
 
I don’t like this!  It’s not how I want it to be!  I want it to read differently… like ‘God forgives us completely and purely, regardless of how we treat others.’  But that is not what Jesus said!  
 
My friend, the Truth is - We must forgive others for what they have done before God will forgive us for what we have done!   Reread it; there’s no way around this “hard truth.”
 
Forgiveness is not an option for the one who wants to be forgiven!  We don’t have the luxury of forgiving some things but holding on to the ‘unforgivable’ that each of us has suffered at one time or another.
 
Perhaps this explains the awe we experience when we hear about someone who sincerely forgave the terrible person who hurt them so deeply.  We see the harmed one experience the joy of forgiveness, regardless of how the criminal responds.   
 
Forgiveness sets free the one who does the forgiving! 
 
Father, help us see that we are free when we forgive others!  Help us to forgive Father, every wrong done to us, and then to be forgiven by Your Grace, completely set free! 
 
Forgiveness 
Matthew West
https://youtu.be/uyGbb18wUts?si=N2uteLik-b8yYM8L

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