FORGIVENESS

 

FORGIVENESS

Matt. 6:14-23

The Lord recently led me to share a devotional with a rodeo crowd on the subject of forgiveness. I feel like it is important that I share the jest of it with you today.

Forgiveness is the pathway to God. I John 1:8-10; Matt. 6:14-15 In order to have a personal relationship with God, forgiveness comes into play. Without the forgiveness of Christ, no one can know God. We are compelled to confess our sins to Him, ask for His forgiveness, claim it, and then live like it.

Forgiveness is the pathway to answered prayer. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-23 that if we are not willing to forgive others, God will not hear, let alone answer, our prayers. If your prayers seem to be going nowhere, perhaps you need to examine your heart and see if you are harboring bad feelings towards someone.

Forgiveness is the pathway to healing broken relationships. We are to forgive those who have wronged us. We all have been hurt by the words or actions of others. Some of us have been hurt deeply and everything within us urges us to not forget the pain caused and forgive them. Peter asked Jesus one day how many times one should forgive someone who wrongs them, seven times? Jesus replied, “No, seventy times seven!” In other words, there is no limit to the times we are to forgive one another. Sometimes we must forgive ourselves. We say and do things that are hurtful to others that we regret doing. Even though we may not be able to rectify what we have done and seek forgiveness, we must forgive ourselves in order to find peace for our souls. What is under the blood of Christ must stay there. How can we justify not forgiving others or ourselves when Christ forgives us?

Forgiveness is the pathway to healing our nation. II Chron. 7:14 Things are only as hopeless as our unwillingness to humble ourselves before God, confess our sins, ask Him for forgiveness, and change our ways. Seeking God will change the course of our history. Notice, it begins with us, God’s people. Are you seeking God on behalf of our nation?

Forgiving is one of the hardest things we will ever do. Yet, it is the most important thing we can ever do. It is the pathway to God’s peace in our lives, our homes, our neighborhoods, and our nation. Phil. 4:13