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Forgive us
as we forgive others
Two passages to
consider about forgiveness Forgiveness is a choice. Do not wait until you feel like forgiving. |
Asking
for God's forgiveness
In many churches in the UK
the Lord’s prayer is said at every service. In it we ask God to forgive
us to the same standard that we forgive others. Is it any wonder then that
many come away from church looking miserable because we are, as human
beings, quite poor at forgiving others! Let's change that and come away
from church looking forgiven. To know God’s forgiveness is a blessing, a
great relief. What a wonderful burden is lifted what joy fills our hearts
(and hopefully shows on our faces!) but we need to have our own house in
order too. God does not um and err over whether to forgive us when we ask
it of Him. This is what Jesus came for—to enable us to be forgiven and
restore that relationship between us and Him. I say it again, God does not
hesitate in forgiving a genuinely repentant heart. Two sides
to forgiveness Let’s look at what is
involved here. There two aspects to this. God forgives us as we forgive
others as I have already highlighted (The Lords prayer. Matthew 6 v12) but
we also forgive others because we have known the forgiveness of God
(Parable of the unmerciful servant. Matthew 18 v33). Not to forgive is an
insult against the One who has already forgiven us. Many times in the modern
media I have heard people saying that they will never forgive someone of
something. To their shame a number of these instances have been over
fairly minor matters. There are many serious occurrences between
people which elicit this statement though. Many times it is born out of
deep hurt and disappointment. Nevertheless holding unforgiveness against
someone is not the answer according to the passages I have mentioned. This
position adds to your woes. Examine
yourself Is there anything which you
have not yet forgiven someone? Do not wait until you feel like forgiving
them. Forgiveness is a choice. I choose to forgive because God has first
forgiven me. And I choose to forgive because I want to be forgiven. |
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