Spiritual Self-Sabotage
CONTINUED . . .
Before moving on, let’s take a look at a couple things about forgiveness:
First: Forgiveness is the solution to anger. Or to say it this way, forgiveness is anger resolved.
Second: Unforgiveness then, is anger left unresolved, or said this way, unforgiveness is unresolved anger!
Let's see what Jesus says about forgiveness …
Matthew 6:12-15
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
Jesus says some very critical things here. To begin with, Jesus tells us that HOW we experience forgiveness from the Father is directly related to HOW we offer forgiveness to others!
“And forgive us our debts
AS WE forgive our debtors!
That little word “AS” means …
To the same degree or quantity that.
In the same manner or way that:
In accordance with which or with the way in which:
In other words: “And forgive us our debts to the same degree or quantity; in the same manner or way that; in accordance with which or the way in which we forgive our debtors!
Now, we need to seriously think about this! How do we really want God to forgive us when we sin against Him? Either Jesus speaks TRUTH or He does not! And because Jesus DOES SPEAK THE TRUTH then we absolutely must believe that He meant precisely what He said and that …
If we generously forgive others, then God will generously forgive us!If we conditionally forgive others, then God will conditionally forgive us!If we demand penance from others before we forgive them, then God will demand penance from us before He will forgive us!If we make people beg for our forgiveness, God will make us beg Him for His forgiveness!If we put a “price tag” on our forgiveness towards others, God will put a price tag on His forgiveness towards us!
Jesus goes on to explain that this matter becomes even more serious, critically so!
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
Notice that Jesus does not allow for rationalizations, excuses or justifications in this matter!
Jesus says, “IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE THEN GOD WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU” – period!
Jesus does not say, “Once you have learned about forgiveness then if you do not forgive …”
Jesus does not say, “After you understand all about forgiveness and then do not forgive …”
JESUS SAYS IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE OTHERS THEN YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU!!!!
And I ask you, what kind of fellowship can you have with God as your Father if you are in a state of being NOT forgiven?
If you are not forgiven, can you be at peace with God? If you have not peace with God then you have not peace at all!
If you are not forgiven, can you be blessed of God? If you are not blessed of God then you are not blessed at all!
If you are not forgiven, will God answer your prayers?
If you are not forgiven by God then what can you possibly have with God?
To use our two thoughts just previous to this we may say it this way:
“And resolve Your anger towards us for sinning in the same way that we resolve our anger towards others for their sins against us!”
AND …
For is you do not resolve your anger towards others for their sins against you, your Heavenly Father will not resolve His anger towards you for your sins against Him!”
I can think of little else that will drive a person to anger and bitterness than to be ignored by his/her parent! Yet, if we fail to forgive others then because our Heavenly Father does not forgive us, the only experience available to us is one of being ignored by our Heavenly Father until we repent ourselves and begin to forgive others! In this condition, the only goodness we can receive from God is purely from His being merciful - - which He does so that we do not utterly lose all hope!
Continued next issue - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Many Blessings!
Dr. Timothy
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