LEARN WHAT IT TAKES FOR ONE TO BE FORGIVEN BY GOD.
Shalom.We greet you in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today,we will look at a very important element of prayer that God wants us to know before we enter his presence asking for mercy and forgiveness.
We are flawed and imperfect.We can’t deny the truth that everyone does sin against God.And sometimes our own faults are slow to recognize.Hence,we could unknowingly sin against God.For instance,when we through our speech cause others to have ill feelings or feel offended, it’s a sin.Though we didn’t intend to hurt them.Consequently, Christians need to continually ask for forgiveness time and time again.
One thing about God’s forgiveness is that it’s conditional.And we are going to learn why this is so.
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach how to pray,he did not hesitate.He designed a model prayer for them(The Lord’s Prayer.)He instructed them to pray just that way and he would do as they asked.For example,when he said,”Give us this day our daily bread”,they were to pray so.Not because they gave to others their livelihood.No.The Lord simply said they should ask and it would be given them.And so on.
However,when he got to the line that says,”And forgive us our debts”,he didn’t just stop at that.Jesus added a condition to it.He makes it crystal clear that if only we forgive those who wrong us shall he also forgive us of our sins.It’s a tough command.But we must fulfill it if we are to receive God’s pardon for our sins.
This should sink deep into our minds and act upon it.Unless we forgive those who are indebted to us,we won’t be forgiven of our sins.Being forgiven and forgiving others are closely tied together in our spiritual lives.
Matthew 6:9-15;”After this manner therefore pray ye:Our Father which art in heaven,Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come.Thy will be done in earth,as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts ,as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:For thine is the Kingdom,and the power,and the glory,forever.Amen
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if ye forgive not men their trespassess, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Reading through verses 14 and 15,Jesus emphasizes on his words.He says that we must forgive others of their wrongdoings if we are to be forgiven of our sins.Otherwise,he won’t forgive us.
God can give to us whatever thing we could ask of him.For example,he may choose to overflow one’s stores with all kinds of food stuffs when they ask.No matter how egocentric and selfish one could be.
Yet God can’t act contrary to his nature.When he gives his word, he keeps it.He won’t tolerate or be patient with those who neglect his rules.Unless you forgive that neighbor, friend, brother, husband or wife,e.t.c.,who turned on you,who betrayed your trust,God won’t forgive your sins too.Never expect or think it in your heart that God will forgive your sins while you disregard his commands. Don’t entertain or listen to the devil’s lies that you can still be forgiven even if you don’t forgive others.
You have been slandered yes.They’ve tarnished your name and caused you hurts.But the Lord asks us to respond in a godly way.We ought to forgive those who do us wrong.And we will be sure to receive God’s forgiveness when ask of him.If we, nonetheless,hold onto grudges and show hate to our wrongdoers,then God says that he will not forgive us.
The sin of unforgiveness has led many souls into hell.All because they could not forgive while they still lived.Yet they hoped to be forgiven of their sins by God.The Lord has made it clear in his Word: our being forgiven depends on us forgiving others.If we don’t forgive others,such could be our fate too.Usually,death intrudes into our lives untold.And all those who die in sin have their place in the fire of hell.Thus,we should make forgiving as our daily routine in life.
May God help us to patiently bear all wrongdoings from others and be willing to forgive always.So we may live peaceably here on earth and escape God’s judgment.
Shalom.
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