Forgiveness

July 24, 2022

Forgiveness, that which we are anxious to receive and yet reluctant to

give. It is kind of like money. We want more, but do not wish to give

more. Unlike Jesus, we fail to see that the more we give the more we

receive from our Heavenly Father. “Blessed are the merciful for they shall

obtain mercy”, and, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will

your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses”. I could site the above

references, but you know they are the rule of God as surely as you know,

“Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is

sin”. We, you and I, can see clearly how these verses fit together and

apply to our well-being as well as that of the church. We cannot love God

if we do not care for our family whom we have seen. Our love for God’s

family determines whether we love Him. We have not seen him and so He

measures our devotion to each other and appropriates that to himself. So,

“When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your

Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark

11:25). Forgiveness has this condition attached and it does not depend

upon frequency but upon request, “seventy times seven”. There is the

spirit of forgiveness and it is Holy; the same grace that has been given us

by Christ Jesus your Lord and mine. We that show mercy must do so with

cheerfulness (Romans 12:8). “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one

another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you,

so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13). Not an impossible standard if only we

reflect upon exactly how dependent we are upon the grace, mercy, love,

and forgiveness of our God, whom through the death, burial, and

resurrection of Christ has saved us. Our past sins are forgiven and so by

the love of God we are empowered to forgive foolish, simple minded, and

weaker brethren - like ourselves!

Dr. Kenneth E. Morrison