The Importance Of Forgiveness

The Importance Of Forgiveness “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 Having grown up in the wonderful state of Kentucky, I can remember hearing about the feud of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s who, over some unworthy event kept fighting and killing each other for many years. Neither family could bring themselves to forgive the other for something that their former ancestors committed. This feud carried on for many generations before the offspring forgot what the original feud was all about. This kind of unforgiveness is so tragic. No wonder God makes it clear in the scripture above that unless we forgive others their trespasses, God will not forgive us our trespasses. Even Peter had trouble with the principle of forgiveness as he asked Jesus how many times must I forgive someone who has sinned against me, Seven? Jesus replied, “not seven times but seventy times seven.” Everyone, through the strength of Jesus, can forgive every offense committed against him. For instance, the Nazis killed the family of Corrie Ten Boom, but with Jesus’ help, she forgave them. Unforgiveness is as serious as the original offense. When we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, we also hurt God’s heart, as we are disobeying one of God’s greatest commandments, and refusing His help. Just remember that God forgave you and me, and He knows how to help you to forgive others. To be a follower of God, forgiveness is a must, and is necessary in order to receive our own forgiveness from God. Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 25 Robert William Brock, Jr.