Forgiveness
“And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.”
That is right - it is part of the Lord’s Prayer... Unforgiveness is something that you and I have to deal with. If we don’t, it is like a cancer that will eventually consume us. It is like rust in a motorcar, unless it is completely cut out, it will eat up the whole car. You say and I say, “Well, we can’t!” Jesus says we have to - and not for His sake but ours.
Unforgiveness, according to the Oxford Dictionary means: "Not willing to forgive or excuse faults." We have got to get that plank out of our eye first so that we can take that speck out of our brother’s eye. Luke 6:41
A very good friend of mine gave me a very good illustration the other day... He said, "Getting stabbed in the back is not the most painful thing - Turning around to see who did it is.” Remember, the only people who can get close enough to stab us in the back are those who we trust and love. Jesus knows about that. Remember what happened with Judas Iscariot when he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver?
But you know folks, once we have been forgiven by God for our sins, we are so moved with gratitude towards the Lord that we eagerly forgive those who have sinned against us. Just like Zacchaeus did in Luke 19:8. He was so overwhelmed that the Lord had forgiven him that he said, "I will give back to all of those who I have taken from unjustly." Jesus says to him in verse 9:
"Salvation has come to this house today."
I had a phone call a few days back from a very distraught man who lives in another city. He was emotional on the phone... He was actually weeping. He said: “Angus, please forgive me. I have held a grudge against you for fourteen years - I was jealous of you. I was bitter against you and that turned into hatred. I saw the number of men that were coming to the Mighty Men Conferences and I was very, very jealous." That unforgiveness destroyed his home. He ended up in divorce from his family, he had to move to another city, but you know, when I said to him: "I gladly forgive you. I didn’t even know that you had anything against me..." there were shackles that fell from his ankles, like a bag of cement off his back, as he was freed. I could hear it on the phone and we were able to pray. He is coming to see me and have a cup of tea with me one of these days. Forgive so that you can be forgiven.
Have a wonderful day and make sure there is nothing else in your heart against anyone else.
God bless you.