For Thought and Meditation - Thursday, July 14

[Pine Baron]

Good morning all. I hate to admit it, but I need a constant reminder of this. Have a safe and blessed day.

Forgive and Be Forgiven

July 14, 2022 - Dr. David Jeremiah

Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) contains universal requests (God’s rule, God’s will) and personal requests: physical provision (daily bread), spiritual provision (forgiveness), and protection (deliverance from evil). But forgiveness has a caveat: God’s forgiveness of our “debts” (sins) is tied to our forgiveness of our “debtors” (those who sin against us). In fact, Jesus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

The forgiveness of which Jesus spoke is not eternal forgiveness for salvation. That forgiveness comes only through faith in Christ, not through anything we do to earn it. Rather, the forgiveness Jesus spoke of is that which maintains fellowship with God. If we want to live in intimate fellowship with God, we must forgive others as He has forgiven us. The apostle Paul expressed this same truth in Ephesians 4:32.

Forgiving others and being forgiven by God go hand in hand.

In these days of guilt complexes, perhaps the most glorious word in the English language is “forgiveness.”
Billy Graham

[Wayne Smith]

Amen. I frequently ask people if they pray the Lord's Prayer. If they say yes, I ask them if they realize they have asked God to forgive them as they forgive others? I sometimes get the most incredulous looks.

[buckwheatpaul]

Good post....it is God's job to judge other's actions and not our job! I know people hold grudges for years and the only person hurt is the grudge holder. Turn it over to God and move on with your life!

[GhostHawk]

Very very good lesson, and one which many struggle with.

It is not up to us to judge, condemn, or hold grudges.
We are supposed to set an example for others. To love and to Forgive as Jesus did.

Most of those who "call" themselves Christian in my experience do a very poor job of this.

I was lucky in my youth as I had several examples of people who truly LIVED the Christian Life. Not Saints, not perfect, but close.
They always had a handshake or a hug or quiet words of love and acceptance for a boy who did not fit in.

[USMC87]

Amen, I talk about this all the time with my family and brethren. Forgiveness is not if we forgive but we must forgive in order to live as a disciple of Christ.