“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive your trespasses. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15
Forgiveness.
There it is, clear and as direct as can be. Yet, forgiveness is one of the hardest and longest journeys of the mortal man.
If you take a few moments right now, much like me recently, I am sure you can come up with more than a few people or things that you are yet to forgive. Ask yourself why not and try to align it with the voice of God in you.
I know. It is impossible. Because forgiveness is indeed all that God is.
We often convince ourselves that we have forgiven or have tried our best to forgive or sometimes tell ourselves that we have ‘forgiven’ but we are not allowed to forget out of practicality. You know the sayings,
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.” Or “If someone shows you who they are the first time, believe them (meaning that in the context of people messing up with us of course).” Lets not forget, “I don’t give people too many chances.” Or “You only get to play me once.”
The list could go on with these mantras that is against genuine, compassionate forgiveness.
And no, “letting people go,” (as in kicking them out of your life out of un-forgiveness) is not the same as forgiving them out of love, then separating yourself from them according to the voice of God’s spirit in you.
Malice is not forgiveness. Passive aggression is not forgiveness. Never bringing up the matter is not forgiveness. Reminding yourself or the person their past wrongs towards you is not forgiveness.
Lord help us. CONTINUE READING HERE.
