FORGIVENESS

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Don’t forget to pray. Ask God for insight and an understanding of his Word. This insight or enlightenment is a work of grace and a ministry of the Holy Spirit. Pray you will have eyes to see and ears to hear the marvelous ways that God is showing his love to all his creation but especially to his family of believers.

Scripture: Matt 6:14-15 (NIV) For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

FORGIVENESS

Note: Christian Publicly Forgives Man Who Murdered Family
Arturo Martinez-Sanchez was left for dead after attackers viciously beat him with a hammer. His wife and 10-year-old daughter were murdered in the random home invasion. But, citing his Christian faith, Martinez-Sanchez is choosing to forgive. The 39-year-old says his faith has made it possible to forgive the killer, who perpetrated what local police call one of the most heinous crimes in memory.
“As a believer in Christ, I know that God forgives all the sins of those who have faith in Him. In this, I am instructed to forgive first,” Martinez-Sanchez says.
“Knowing that God will forgive murderers if there is true repentance, Bryan Clay will stand in judgment before Him. It is my prayer that my wife, Yadira, and my daughter, Karla, are in heaven waiting for my sons and me to arrive to spend eternity with them. In fact, I know this is true.” [Charisma News, July 16, 2012]

What a horrible and evil event to go through. It’s impossible to imagine the pain and suffering, the loss that this man must have felt. I honestly don’t know if I would have responded in the same way he did. I hope and pray I am never faced with having to make this type of decision. Arturo Martinez-Sanchez extended his forgiveness to Bryan Clay because as a Christian he knew that this is what God would want him to do.

This is one of the hard-sayings of the Bible, one that many believers know about but have little understanding. Jesus has just finished teaching his disciples about, “how to pray.” A part of this model prayer was to ask God to forgive us of our debts (sins) as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. The way this reads implies that my forgiveness is conditional upon my willingness to forgive those who have sinned against me (Matt 6:5-13). Obviously, my willingness to forgive those who have sinned against me it is important to God or he would not have included this warning. If I refuse to forgive others, God will refuse to forgive me (Matthew 6:15).

Jesus is not teaching that a person can earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others. This would be contrary to the exercise of faith in the grace of God which he makes available to us in Christ. Forgiving those who sin against us would be evidence of the attitude of a believer who because of their own sin saw their great need for God’s forgiveness. Paul the apostle proclaimed this important teaching of Christ to the church in Ephesus when he was teaching them how to “live as children of light.” “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph 4:32). He taught the same thing to the church at Colossae when he taught them “the rules for holy living.” “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col 3:13).

Why is this so important to Jesus? As believers we are to be like Jesus. Our unwillingness to forgive would be a poor reflection of Jesus’ character in our lives and evidence that we are resisting the Holy Spirit’s work in us as he conforms us to the image of God’s Son (Rom 8:29; 1 John 3:2b). Jesus came to die for sinful man. He gave his life so that our sins could be forgiven and we could have a right relationship with God. If we are being conformed into Christ-likeness we too will be willing to forgive those who have sinned against us. This is the essence of the gospel: we sinned against God; he forgave us. It’s not a question of whether or not we are to take this command seriously. The question is am I willing to be obedient to the teachings of Jesus Christ. If we can say yes to this question then the Holy Spirit is doing a good work in us, transforming us into the image of Christ.  Is it easy, NO! Is it doable, YES -  IN CHRIST!

Word from the Lord: “Beloved, your spiritual journey is a process of becoming more and more like me. This transformation will not be completed until to you stand in my presence and see me face to face. I want you to see each day as an opportunity to walk faithfully before me and grow in purity and holiness. I want you to be a strong witness of God’s redeeming work, as one who has been forgiven and is willing to forgive. Let my Word be your spiritual food and drink. It is the only nourishment available to you that will keep you strong in your witness and testimony, enabling you to faithfully follow me, submitting your will to my will and my way.”

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory. 


 Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!


If you are not interesting in receiving these devotionals please let me know and I will remove you from the list. I hope you enjoy them and that they encourage you to faithfulness. david