Forgiven to Forgive..Esimerkki

Receiving Forgiveness Without Offering It is Self-Destructive

Jesus concludes His parable by emphasizing the paramount importance of forgiveness. He issues a grave warning: the act of withholding forgiveness carries eternal implications.

"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart." (Matthew 18:35 NIV)

The phrase “unless you forgive” in the original Greek tense used by Jesus suggests that forgiveness is indeed attainable. God grants us the fortitude to forgive those who wrong us.

Reflect on the Lord's Prayer:

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV)

It's through the act of forgiving others in our lives that we can truly discern if we've genuinely felt the touch of God's forgiveness and if we've been transformed anew.

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

Forgiving others isn't a prerequisite for salvation; rather, it's a manifestation of it.

Now that you grasp the necessity of forgiveness, the pressing question is: How does one truly forgive? It often feels so daunting!

Before we delve into that, I invite you to recite this prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am profoundly grateful for Your boundless kindness and generosity towards me, recognizing that Your benevolence has guided me to repentance. I admit that I haven't extended the same grace and patience to those who have wronged me. Instead, I've clung to anger, bitterness, and resentment. I beseech You to bring to my mind all those I need to forgive, so I may do so forthwith.

Amen.

Until tomorrow,

David Théry

Practical Insights to Experience God