Forgiveness: Everyone needs it

Forgiveness

Matthew 6: 14-15 for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.   (In red, Jesus words)

I would say that this is fair warning on what God thinks about forgiveness of others. I personally believe that the reason God would say this, that He would NOT forgive someone who could not forgive someone else because He wants us to realize that we aren’t any better than the person who needs forgiveness. I also believe that when we forgive someone we understand what forgiveness is – a true act of letting go of the hurt, pain, rejection, or whatever happened that caused forgiveness to be needed. When we understand what forgiveness is, we understand fully what Christ’s forgiveness is and has done. 

Also, I have noticed/heard a lot of people say lately that they can’t forgive someone UNLESS there is an apology… I didn’t notice that in the verse above, it doesn’t state “you must receive an apology and THEN forgive. NO, It says – FORGIVE OR He will NOT forgive you. Wow, let me think about that one for a whole half second… I think I may have changed my mind. 

This is just one verse in the Bible… There are a ton of Bible verses on forgiveness. I think if people realized just how bad they actually were, they wouldn’t be so surprised when someone else wronged them. I am a horrible person, I don’t deserve to be forgiven by Christ or anyone for that matter, but because HE DID forgive me, I think others should be able to too… He is CHRIST after all! If Jesus can forgive us, why can’t we forgive each other!? Don’t you agree that the world would be a WHOLE lot BETTER if we all just realized – Oh hey, you aren’t perfect either, THANK GOODNESS!!!!!!!! 

Never easy, yet, it’s ALWAYS worth it… I have found this to be true every single time.

Next time you ask God to forgive you, Maybe you should ask yourself; Have I forgiven those who wronged me today? ~

A girl who always needs forgiveness and Is always learning to forgive