God wants us to forgive. Jesus taught about forgiveness. He taught about God’s forgiveness. Even though God freely gives to those who confess and turn away from sin, it also depends on each individual’s willingness to forgive others.
A person could lose the chance to be forgiven of their sins. If they are unwilling to forgive others. A person heart can become bitter, resentful, and unforgiving when they refuse to forgive. This is a sad state to be in. This is where you could lose the chance for God to forgive you of your sins.
One needs to really search their heart. Whether we like it or not, we have to forgive. We don’t want to be in a bitter, resentful and unforgiving state. Stop. Think back. Have you ever met a person who was bitter, angry, resentful, and unforgiving? I sure have. They are not nice people. Even when you try to be nice, they tend to just be mean. I don’t want to be that kind of person. Do you?
I want to be happy, joyful, and peaceful. I want to be a forgiving person that God has called me to be. Do you? Life is much more enjoyable when we have a forgiving heart. More loving heart towards others. Oh, wait, that is all Jesus. And when we are what God asks us to be, others will see Jesus in us. I want to reflect God’s light in my light. This means that I give mercy to others, I give grace to others, I forgive others, and I love others. I no longer think of my own selfishness, but of others. However, this is hard!!! People are just flat our mean sometimes to us. Yet we have to forgive them because God forgives us and we sure don’t get it right the first time.
If you are raising children, start teaching them to forgive from the heart, not because we are making them. Even to your grandchildren. Even to your teens. The state of our heart matters. We can say we forgive, but do we really forgive from the heart??
Today lets search our heart.
Do you have any bitterness, resentment, anger towards someone?
Have you truly forgiven from the heart?
How are we teaching others to forgive?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you now?
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for this beautiful day you have made. I ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and to let us know if we need to truly forgive someone from deep down in our heart. Help us to understand how to truly forgive as you forgive.
In Jesus Name
Amen
