Finding our way through the wilderness

Matthew 6:14-15

New International Version (NIV)

   ¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Day Six

Forgiveness

  Forgiveness is one the hardest of all of Jesus’ commandments to follow, however it could be the most essential. Forgiveness is sometimes hard to do because it is a completely self-imposed act. No one can force us to forgive someone that wronged us and truly no one can really teach us how to forgive, because we all forgive differently. However, no matter how hard of a task we must learn how to forgive no matter how minuscule or colossal the offense may be.

  
  Why do we have to forgive? How many times do we forgive someone that has wronged us? How do we forgive? Again we can use the scriptures to answer all of these questions.

First in Matthew 6: 14-15 Jesus gives us a clear answer to why we should forgive others. In this passage Jesus is teaching the people how to pray. He does so by reciting what we know as the Lord’s Prayer. Because the text doesn’t say why Jesus after reciting the Lord’s Prayer had to explain the part on forgiveness, let us use our spiritual imagination for one moment. I can see someone in the crowd following along with every word that Jesus is saying and then when He says, “Forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” That same person stands up and says, “Teacher why should I have to forgive someone who as wronged ME, shouldn’t the person that wrong me be the one asking for the forgiveness.” Jesus answered their questions as well as ours by saying, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

So you see that in order to gain forgiveness for our sins we must first forgive others, because how can we ask our Heavenly Father to forgive us when we cannot even forgive our neighbor. Also if we are to try and walk in His footsteps we must also imitate His actions.

  How many times do we forgive someone that has wronged us? Jesus answers this question in Matthew 18:21-22. In the text Peter asked Jesus “how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me. Up to seven times?” Jesus answered “I tell you not seven times but seventy-seven times. I believe that Jesus’ answer to Peter is twofold. On one side Jesus is telling Peter and us that we are to forgive and continue each time someone wrongs us. Now this may seem hard to do but think about like this, what if God told you that He had ran out of forgiveness for your sins? We would all be in a world of trouble. Luckily we serve a merciful God who would not turn His back on us, so as the Father does so does His children. 

  On the other side Jesus is also saying that if someone wrongs you one time it may take a while to truly forgive them. Jesus knows our nature and forgiveness is not a natural act for some of us, so He is saying keep on working on forgiving that person until the matter is settle in our heart.

  Lastly, how do we truly forgive? Like we said earlier no one can teach you how to forgive, it has to be a self-taught act. However like in all other areas of life, the bible can help instruct you. One of the key acts of forgiveness that I look to when I am struggling to forgive is between Jesus and Peter. When Jesus was being judged, flogged, and being prepared to be crucified, Peter was seen and identified as a follower of Jesus. Peter subsequently denied even knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus had predicted. Imagine how that would feel not only was Jesus being unjustly beaten and led to his death, but His closest companions had left him to endure this by himself. I can’t imagine how lonely Jesus must have felt, but still after He was resurrected Jesus forgave Peter and the only disciples without even a second thought.

  On a personal note about forgiveness I would have to say that it is truly worth it to forgive the person(s) that have wronged us in the past, present, and future. Because holding onto a grudge or animosity against someone usually only does ourselves harm, that person gets to walk around carefree while we harbor anger and contempt towards them in our hearts. It not worth it, if we want to find our way out of the wilderness and enter into our promised land, we must learn to forgive.

Please join us tomorrow as we continue our journey. Until then God Bless,

                                         James Anthony Love