To forgive or not to forgive, is it that important? Jesus says it is.
The choice that we make to forgive or not forgive has benefits or consequences, just like every choice we make. When you choose to believe in Jesus as your savior -snap- in that instant- you are saved. That choice of faith is the beginning of your walk as a Believer. For some folks it is an easy choice, for others it takes years to decide to believe, but through it all, though God wants us to obey quickly because He loves us and it is for our own good, the decision is left to us. The choice is ours.
As we grow in our walk with God and learn of Jesus and His teachings, it doesn’t take long to see how radically different He expects us to be, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Holy Spirit is with us to help and guide us through our growth. God loves His children abundantly, so as we get into this teaching remember to enjoy this moment of discovery and know that God would not command us to walk in forgiveness without providing a way, that walking in forgiveness is for our good and that Jesus gave his life so that we may live victoriously and glorify God.
Lets begin by putting forgiveness into perspective. As a child of God you are going to live forever with Jesus, which makes your time on earth a speck of sand compared to all of the sands of every planet of every galaxy that is in existence, multiplied to the largest number you can imagine. There is no end to sharing life with a creator who loves you beyond your ability to understand it while you are in this world.
Your creator loves you so much that He has provided a way for each man and woman, boy and girl to share this life and forever with Him, to the degree that He has forgiven you by covering your offenses with his son’s blood. The same creator who loves you loves the one who has offended you, and the same blood that has covered your offences is provided to cover theirs. The Blood will cover the offence of the child who lied about taking a cookie without permission and it will cover the offence of the murderer who took innocent life.
If your creator loves you enough to cover your offences with the blood of His son, what right do you have to be offended and be in unforgiveness by the actions of another who can receive the same covering provided for you? (I’m talking to myself too)
God has forgiven every offence against Himself. It is covered by the Blood of Christ, and that same blood covering is for everyone when they make the choice to believe in Jesus.
Knowing the degree of forgiveness that has been extended to you for eternity, do you still feel the same about not forgiving someone who offends you?
Until next time, God bless you and your loved ones.
