forgiveness

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. (Matthew 6:14) 

Does this verse mean that God’s forgiveness is like a vending machine? You put in your forgiveness, and his mercy comes out? Well, no. It doesn’t work quite like that.

Jesus is explaining a fundamental principle about the way God forgives. It’s not that he withholds his mercy from us until we have forgiven everyone who has ever hurt us. He’s always offering it to us—we just can’t receive it! It’s as if we are holding an umbrella over our heads, and the rain of God’s forgiveness can’t touch us.

So yes, we must forgive those who sin against us if we want to know God’s forgiveness. But how do we do it?

It’s simple: by choosing. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it’s an act of the will. But sometimes—often, in fact—it doesn’t come easily. God knows that we can be tempted to stew in anger or seek revenge, and that’s why he is always ready to help us. Just as he received a man’s humble and imperfect statement of faith—“I do believe, help my unbelief!”—so too Jesus receives our halting efforts to forgive (Mark 9:24). He embraces them and makes them fruitful. It all begins when we pray, “Lord, I want to forgive; help my unforgiveness!” We may still feel the sting of the offense against us, but with God’s help, we can choose to let go of the grudge.

No one embodied this kind of mercy more than Jesus did. Wounded and bleeding on the cross, he chose to pray, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Our sin had caused his suffering; our disobedience had led to his own agony and crucifixion, yet he forgave us. His example tells us that the grace to forgive is available to everyone—even us! 

Today ask the Spirit to reveal someone you need to forgive. Then put down your umbrella of bitterness, and make the choice to extend mercy. Don’t worry if you still can’t let go of the hurt. Just ask the Lord to help your unforgiveness, and leave it at that for today. Then ask the same thing tomorrow and the next day and the next. As you do, God’s forgiveness will begin to flood your heart.

“Jesus, give me a merciful heart.” 

from wau.org