Forgiveness

Frequently when I am trying to put myself to sleep (which is a challenge to say the least at some points), I recite things in certain categories going through the alphabet. For example if I was doing colors A = aquamarine, B= blue, C = cream, and the list would go on u
ntil I got stumped or fell asleep. Last night I was doing religious songs or verses of the Bible: A = All Creatures of Our God and King, B= Be still and know that I am God, and so on...

When I got to L I began the Lord's Prayer, but I was derailed by thought. A particular phrase in the Lord's Prayer stuck out this time, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." This verse implies that if I do not forgive someone, then I will not be forgiven. So this morning I looked into this thought a bit deeper, and honestly I am surprised and convicted. Matthew 6:15, Mark 11:26 and Matthew 18: 35 all confirm the inference I made from the Lord's Prayer. Forgiveness begets forgiveness and unforgiveness begets unforgiveness. Unfortunately, Christians, myself included, are some of the worst at holding grudges and not forgiving people. We often mask this as righteous indignation, but it is really just pride. We do not feel like people deserve forgiveness, but the truth of the matter is this: when we fail to forgive the people in our lives for wronging us, it is us that does not deserve to be forgiven. Not that we truly deserve forgiveness anyway, as it is written in Romans "while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

People are going to sin against us. They will inevitably hurt us. This is the sin nature, fallen humanity. We individually and corporately will sin against God and hurt Him. However, he will continue to offer us forgiveness, healing and wholeness. Last time I checked we were to model our life after the life of Christ and I believe that is possible through grace.

Here's to living with a heart of forgiveness and grace...