by David Brenneman
"Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35.
There's a personal price to pay for not forgiving those whom God's telling you whom needs to be forgiven.
You may try to go on with your life but deep down its going to have an impact on you. Denial of this truth isn't going to change anything. Remember God's truth triumphs over all man-made truths.
It's going to chip and nag at you a little bit at a time until a space opens up for a seed of bitterness to gain purchase in.
Denial will sprout from the bitterness as well.
You're never going to be who you are meant to be in Christ if forgiveness isn't in your vocabulary.
It's heartbreaking to watch people deny the bitterness and their lack of forgiving others.
Some say that they can forgive but they can't forget. In this you must choose to. Jesus chooses to forgive your sins and remembers them no more. By not allowing the healing of the Spirit of God in you from true forgiveness you're choosing to keep a hand-hold on bitterness. In reality it means you didn't really forgive after all.
"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32.
You want Jesus to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness don't you?
You want a restored relationship with Jesus don't you?
You want to experience the love of God in Christ Jesus openly and unhindered don't you?
Guess what? Your choices impact that. Among them is forgiving others. Guess what else? Just as this parable says so shall it be with you. If you're not willing to truly forgive and move on as you're asking Jesus to do for you when it comes to others...then there's consequences for you.
Pride gets in the way of forgiving others. We say things that we think we are justified in saying and then don't know how to handle the embarrassing situation that resulted when God says...forgive them.
We think we have rights.
My Dear Reader...we gave up those rights when we came to Christ for salvation. We decided to follow Jesus. Jesus said to His Disciples to go and make more disciples. Teaching them to obey all that He commanded them. Just what do you think you read this morning?
You read some of what He commanded them...which is part of what being a disciple is about.
Jesus said if anyone wishes to follow Him they must take up their own cross and follow Him.
You can't carry anything while carrying a cross.
So really consider your ways. The Spirit says to you to consider your ways.
Jesus said to them in learning how to pray. For give us as we forgive those who trespass against us.
It's in your hands.
You must decide to follow Jesus every moment of every day.
There's consequences to our not forgiving others. The greatest is our relationship with Jesus.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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