“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV
Forgiveness — a kingdom principle that is much easier to talk about than to live out. C.S. Lewis said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” While I am thankful that God has forgiven the inexcusable in me, I have sadly been far too hesitant to do the same for others at times. Ever been there?
To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. -C.S. Lewis Share on XTWO QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
When is forgiveness necessary, and why is forgiveness necessary?
When – According to Matthew 6, it is necessary to forgive anytime anyone trespasses or crosses a personal line, no matter how great or small.
Why – This is the part that’s hard to swallow. Why is forgiveness necessary? Because if we don’t forgive others, God will not forgive us. Please notice, Jesus didn’t say “He might not forgive your trespasses.” He said, “He will not forgive your trespasses.”
Do you see why the enemy wants to trap you in unforgiveness? If he can get you to justify why you are holding on to unforgiveness, then he can keep you enslaved to the area you need forgiveness. Here are three lies we believe that trap us in the enemy’s plan of unforgiveness:
LIE #1
I have a right to be angry.
I’m not talking about momentary anger. I am talking about harboring anger. Someone once said, “at the heart of anger is vengeance. “ God said vengeance belongs to him. (see Hebrews 10:30) You are not entitled to anger or vengeance. You have to let it go!
LIE #2
They have to earn my forgiveness.
God tends to measure us by the measuring rod we use on others (Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 7:2). Did you have to earn God’s forgiveness? Isn’t it amazing how we want to be treated differently than we treat others? When it comes to forgiveness, we must give it freely. However, it’s a different story when it comes to trust. They have to earn trust but not forgiveness.
LIE #3
To forgive is to forget.
Charles Stanley said, “Forgiveness does not mean we recant the fact that what happened to us was wrong. Instead, we roll our burdens onto the Lord and allow Him to carry them for us.” I do not believe when you forgive you magically forget all the wrong that happened. Forgiving is not forgetting but rather choosing not to live with your mind fixed on the past.
LEAVE THE PRISON CELL
Today is the day to leave the prison cell. If you’ve been living in bondage to one of these lies, embrace the truth and walk in freedom. Your greatest days are on the other side of forgiveness – let it go!
Your greatest days are on the other side of forgiveness. Share on X
Caleb and Ali live in East Tennessee where they serve at The Lift Church. With boldness and conviction, their deepest desire is to see the church revived and the world awakened. Learn more about The Lift by visiting theliftchurch.tv.
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