The Gospel of Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Luke 6:37, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”

We have been given such an awesome grace from the Most High God; and that is the grace of forgiveness. Every day is a new day with our heavenly Father. Yesterday is in the past, tomorrow is not promised, but today is here and now.

Many times we hang on to past hurt and anger especially when it comes to our loved ones. But oftentimes when we’re angry deep down we are really hurt. And often it’s hard to move on from that place of hurt and anger. But with the Most High by our side we can move on toward that road of forgiveness.

When we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts we can’t expect to take our sins to the Father and expect for Him to forgive us when we have unforgiveness. Unforgiveness can dwell deep within and remain in a person’s heart for years and years. And each time they see that particular person or hear his or her name their body tenses, and their pulse may raise or their expression changes. But what most should realize is unforgiveness doesn’t hurt the other person…it only hurts the unforgiving person.

A lot of times a person will believe they are getting even with a person because they didn’t invite them to their party or family gathering or they may walk out of a room when the other person enters; but it’s them who is displaying a lack of faith and separation from the heavenly Father.

Many of us take our prayers to the Father every morning, throughout the day, and before we go to sleep asking the Most High to forgive us, or grant us our wishes and answer our prayers. But at the same time unforgiveness is in our hearts.

Matthew 6:12, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

About two years my aunt made a statement, “I love Jane Doe, but I will never forgive her.” I truly felt sorry for I knew that her reward suffered. Oh, if she fully understood the latter end. At that very moment I immediately saw how far away from God she had become. For no person can truly love another will out forgiving them. Her love, at that present time, was based on conditions. It wasn’t unconditional love that Christ our Messiah showed. 

Luke 7:44-47, “And he (Christ) turned to the woman, and said unto Simon,

Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Many times we think about our beliefs and how we feel. The words “I” and “me” can become a regular part of a person’s vocabulary while rarely looking at situations through another person’s point of view. When we honestly love someone we can see life through their eyes. At times we may not like what we see, for many have turned off the path of righteousness, but that doesn’t mean we stop loving and forgiving them. And with the guidance of the heavenly Father we pray that their path will be made straight.

It doesn’t matter how many holiday parties and family gatherings we have per month or per year. It certainly doesn’t matter if some are only inviting those who have not offended them. But food for thought, there’s one gathering we want to strive toward and attend…the greatest feast of all feasts.

Once we truly innerstand the reward that our Father has promised, we strive continuously for that promise. We ask the Father to search our heart for any impurities that we may harbor and any imperfections that may cause us to miss the great reward and marriage supper of the Lamb. 

Revelation 19:9, “…Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”