FORGIVENESS

“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (Matthew 18:35).

Jesus made it plain that the believer must be ready and willing to forgive. The verse quoted above is the conclusion of the parable that He gave to his disciples on the need for forgiveness. Although the man in the parable received forgiveness from the king, he turned to be unmerciful and refused to extend to others the kind gesture extended to him.
The story teaches us that:
- It is not optional, but compulsory for us to forgive other people. Although the servant was not instructed to go and forgive those who owed him, we see that his failure to do it attracted punishment.
- As we received forgiveness, we must show it to other people. It is a clear message that we must practice what we preach.
- Other “servants” are watching us. The failure of the servant to forgive those owning him was promptly reported by the other servants to the master. What he did was the basis of the new judgment meted out to him.
- We are owing more than what other people owe us. The level of our indebtedness which the Lord forgave was more than the little, little things that other people did to us. It is the desire of the Lord that we forgive others and this alone should make us willing to forgive them.

Our spiritual success and survival depend really on our ability to forgive. So, as you go out today, remember to forgive “from your hearts” the trespasses of your brother or sister.

Challenge: We win by tenderness; we conquer by forgiveness. - Robertson
Prayer: Help me dear Father to forgive others as You have forgiven me.