And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25
Having grudges against another person is very common. People hurt others all the time, whether on purpose or on accident. Then those hurt hold it against the one who did it forever, often wanting some type of revenge for the wrong done. Forgiveness is seen as a weakness, while striking back, whether physically or mentally, is considered a strength. Very few want to forgive someone who has done something wrong.
Mark records Jesus telling the people that when they are praying and realize that they have something against someone else, they must forgive that person so that the Father can forgive the one praying.
Forgiving someone is a difficult thing to do in the eyes of most people. It means that one must let something painful go without the perpetrator getting punished.
Punishing the one who did wrong is the focus of many. This can be done in many different ways. While many do not physically strike back, most will do silent treatments, or constant words of condemnation.
Inside the church there are many believers who often choose to not forgive others of something that was done wrong. Words are spoken or some action taken that hurt and one wants revenge to occur. Churches split over refusing to forgive and moving forward.
What many forget is that if they do not forgive, God does not forgive. Jesus paid the ultimate price to be able to forgive every person–death on the cross. Even though He paid for everyone’s crime, He still forgives.
Believers are to forgive because of what Jesus did for them. Then God will be able to forgive them also.
Has anyone ever done something wrong to you? It is painful and hard to handle. It may be easy to be angry with the person and seek to punish the person or get some type of revenge.
Take a moment to step back and see it from God’s point of view. Seek to reconcile with the other person and forgive that person. Always keep in mind that if you are unwilling to forgive a small infraction someone did, then God will be unwilling to forgive you of all the things you have done wrong to Him.
Will God be able to forgive you?
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will open your eyes to unforgiveness in your life; that God will give you strength to forgive those who have wronged you; and that God will be able to forgive you of all your sins against Him.
Photo by Fa Barboza on Unsplash
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