Wednesday, 15 March 2023
“So then, if you are presenting a gift before the altar and suddenly you remember a quarrel you have with a fellow believer, leave your gift there in front of the altar and go at once to apologize to the one who is offended. Then, after you have reconciled, come to the altar and present your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24 TPT
“And when you pray, make sure you forgive the faults of others so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you withhold forgiveness from others, your Father withholds forgiveness from you.” – Matthew 6:14-15 TPT
One of the central themes of Christianity is forgiveness. Jesus came to die so that we could be forgiven. We too are called to lay down our lives for others, but just as important, to forgive as we ourselves are forgiven. I believe and have been taught that, “You cannot give what you do not have.” So for me, this means that I can only forgive to the measure that I’ve been forgiven. If I refuse to forgive, this means that I should look at my relationship with GOD and if I’ve truly received GOD’s forgiveness.
“She has been forgiven of all her many sins. This is why she has shown me such extravagant love. But those who assume they have very little to be forgiven will love me very little.” Luke 7:47 TPT. One of the weights that we carry on this journey, as previously mentioned, is self-righteousness. We forget just how much we’ve been forgiven of, and at times feel like we weren’t as bad as others, so we’ve only been forgiven a little. It is this attitude that makes us look down on others and struggle to forgive. Love forgives, we can’t be preaching love and claim to be people of love, yet we refuse to forgive- is not make sure [It does not add up].
Answered prayer is dependent on forgiveness, I don’t believe GOD answers our prayers when there is unconfessed sin, which when confessed, is forgiven. If forgiving others is a prerequisite for us to be forgiven, then it means that for our prayers to be answered, we have to first forgive and be reconciled to others. I am aware that I might not know the pain that you’ve been caused, but GOD does, and He wants to help you to forgive. He’s only looking for your decision to forgive. We’ve been forgiven the unforgivable by GOD and others that we have hurt, how much more should we extend forgiveness to the next person? “Jesus looked at them and he replied, ‘For people, it really is impossible. But GOD can do it. GOD can do everything.’” Matthew 19:26 EASY.
If forgiving others is a prerequisite for us to be forgiven, then it means that for our prayers to be answered, we have to first forgive and be reconciled to others
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