Forgiveness

A sign at the entrance of a convent read, "Absolutely NO TRESPASSING! Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
— Signed, The Sisters of Mercy

For if you forgive men when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
— Matthew 6:14

A four-year-old got confused praying the Lord's Prayer. He prayed, "And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

That's pretty much what Jesus meant by His words in Matthew 6:14. Jesus went on to say in verse 15, "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

The church is simply a community of forgiven and forgiving sinners. Every individual who attends church on Sunday morning has fallen short of the glory of God. Some, however, have received God's free gift of salvation by grace!

Because God has forgiven you, you must forgive others. Why? Is this just another commandment "for your own good?" Yes!

Bitterness, anger, or a critical attitude will bring sickness to your heart and eventually to your body. Forgiveness will make you free and release the Holy Spirit to bring healing to your life.

So give up your grudges, grief, and guilt. Empty your trash basket today!

Ephesians 4:31,32 (GNB) says, "Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead be kind and tenderhearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ."

Taken from The Minister's Little Devotional Book.
Copyright © 1997 by H.B. London Jr. and Stan Toler.
Used by permission of RiverOak Publishing, Tulsa, Okla.
All rights reserved.