FORGIVENESS

Luke 17:5
If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
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Forgiveness. We all heard the word. We all know what it means. But only a few of us, very few, really do give it to someone who ask for it. It is the most difficult thing in the world for us to do. After all the talk in the church about forgiveness, peace, love and healing, there is actually very little of it that is truly demonstrated. Most of us like to think of ourselves as peacemakers, lifts up spirit of those fallen, but even the most deeply spiritual today are guilty of not showing a spirit of forgiveness.

And worse, the very being who gave us life and spirit is the very same being that we all hold grudges against. He is no other than God himself. How many times have we pointed to Him as the cause of our sufferings. We are mad at Him, saying – “Doesn't God protect His own? I can't pray anymore with real trust in Jesus, because I carry in me this idea He failed me”. So we must learn to forgive God first. God has really never sinned against anyone, but still, we hold a subtle grudge against Him. Come into His presence to pray with something bothering us deep inside, about the way He has not done what we thought He should. And then forgive Him. And then forgive ourselves.

In His love, God knew that our conscience needed to be freed from guilt and condemnation. He knew that forgiveness of sins was our greatest need. In the ultimate act of love, God not only suffered the pain of our wrongdoings by sacrificing His Son on the cross, but also paid for the ransom through the same Jesus Christ, in order that we may have forgiveness. All we need to do is to accept His free gift of forgiveness.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I know that I have broken Your laws and my sins have separated me from You. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus name,

Amen +

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness… and those who dwell in it.