Forgive From The Heart

Good Morning!! In reality, it's difficult for us to live up to the commands of an all-knowing God. We assume that if no one else sees that lustful glance, or hears that private thought, then we have gotten away with our stealthy sin,...but God searches the heart! For this reason, He demands heart-deep obedience,...even in relation to forgiveness. We might feel as though we have done our duty, and maybe a little more,...to let an offense or injury go without confrontation, or angry words. But Jesus is not satisfied until we have actually forgiven that person, in our heart.

In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”—Matthew 18:34-35 (NIV)

God demand so much from us, but today's scriptures help puts this one in context. Jesus relates the parable of a man who is forgiven an enormous debt to the king, and yet refuses to relinquish another person from a very small debt. The king therefore is angry and requires the enormous debt to be paid in full. This is a clear picture of salvation. If we have been forgiven so much sin, freely by God's grace, how could we ever demand justice for some small offense against our own person?

Jesus commands forgiveness,...and it must be a genuine forgiveness,...from the heart.

Lord, we thank You, for Your amazing grace,...help us show that same grace and forgiveness to the people in our lives. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"The Lamb that died to save us, is also the Shepherd that lives to lead us."