Friday, November 17, 2017

November 18, 2017

"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Matthew 6:12

You owed a debt of sin you could never have paid. But in His great love and grace, God sent His Son to die on the cross to settle your debt and save you from your sin!

That is the amazing news of the Gospel!

But as God freely forgave your sins through Christ He also expects you to forgive others who sin against you. 

Why do you and I struggle to forgive others when they wrong us?

That's a complicated question and demands complex answers but at the root of the problem is the failure to remember how great God's forgiveness was toward us for how could be mindful of that and not be able to forgive another?

Jesus told a parable to illustrate that point. He said there was a man with a multi-million dollar debt to his master that he could never repay and the master demanded payment. Knowing he could never pay what was owed the debtor cried out for mercy. So pitiful was his pleading that the master was moved with compassion and forgave him the great debt.

You would think that the man forgiven such a large amount would have been filled with joy. But instead, he went to a neighbor who owed him a small amount and ruthlessly demanded payment from him!

When the master found out about him lack of mercy he became angry at the man and had him thrown into debtors prison!

That is such an accurate portrayal of you if you fail to forgive someone who has wronged you!

Jesus made it clear in this prayer that to be forgiven we must forgive others!

What specifically happens if you don't forgive?

1. Your fellowship with the Father is blocked.
2. The Holy Spirit is grieved.
3. Your prayers will not be answered.
4. God leaves you alone to face the problems of life in your own power.
5. The devil gains a foothold through your bitterness.
6. You force God to become your enemy.
7. You lose the blessing of God on your life.
8. You waste time nursing a wounded spirit.
9. You become enslaved to the people you hate.
10. You become like the people you refuse to forgive.

Unless you forgive you will not be forgiven.

Is there someone you need to forgive?