Forgiveness
Jesus said,
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye
forgive not men their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Matthew 6:14-15
Forgiveness
The word forgiveness in Greek meaning means
freedom, deliverance, liberty and pardon.
When we are forgiven by God for our sins we
are free in Christ. When we forgive others
it also frees us from harboring bitterness,
ill will, or resentment. This word comes from a
root word which means "to send
away" or "to lay aside". When
we have a spirit of forgiveness, we are sending
away the works of Satan and shunning the
appearance of evil which could become a
stronghold in the mind or imagination.
"Forgiveness sets the one who forgives free
also." There is no greater feeling than
to be forgiven by God, and forgive others.
It is such a release when we can truly love
those who may have hurt us and remember that
Christ bore all our suffering and sorrows.
When we forgive, we may then be forgiven by our
Lord for our transgressions and find peace and
freedom.
"Whom the Son sets free is free
indeed" We must continue to be
forgiving and lay all our burdens upon the
shoulders of Jesus. Shoulders in the Bible in
Greek meaning represents strength and
responsibility. Our burdens will be carried
by Jesus when we give them to Him. He
is the only one who can give true rest and
peace. When we forgive, we are being yoked
to Him and can truly exchange our burdens for His
burden. Unforgiveness in a life is a
"burden or weight" making a person
"heavy laden". It is to be carried
to the Father and He will give rest and peace.
One of the saddest Scriptures I find in God's Holy
Word is prophecy in Zechariah 13: 6."And
one shall say unto him,
What are these wounds in thine hands? Then
he shall answer, Those with which I was
wounded in the house of my friends.
Can you imagine the hurt of our Lord when wounded
in the "house of those he calls his
friends?" It brings tears to your eyes
when you really think about it. This refers
to the crucified Messiah revealed, as
He refers and will refer people to his
sufferings for their sins. His
"potential friends" can become
"actual friends" through his sufferings
and divine passion for them. There has been a
fountain of salvation opened for sin and
uncleanness to all who will only receive. Zec.
13:1. We may also be wounded at times
because of cruel words or actions,
disbelief, suspicious minds or many other
things; but no hurt could ever compare with the
hurt our Lord felt related to us in
Scripture.
He is our "healing balm of Gilead" when
we apply His Word to our lives. The word
"Gilead" in Hebrew comes from a root
word meaning "to love, a friend, or show
affection for" and this perfectly describes
the intimate relationship and care of the Lord for
his beloved. May we always look to the Cross
of Calvary and the Living Word who became flesh to
suffer and die for us. We have the victory through
obedience to His Holy Word.
"Give and it shall be given unto you"
also includes being forgiving and
giving mercy to others as His mercy was given
to us. With the same measure we
"mete", it shall be measured to us
again. He is such an "Awesome God"
who rewards us with His many blessings, "over
and over again".
To "Forgive" is to "give"
Blessings in Christ,
Jo Ann
J. P.'s Inspirations (c) 2001.
Words of Wisdom
People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered;
But GOD says Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may accuse
you of selfish, ulterior motives;
But GOD asks you to be Kind to them anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
But GOD wants you to Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
But GOD expects you to be Honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
But in GOD's name, Build it anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
there may be jealousy;
But GOD wants you to be Happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
But GOD is relying on you to do Good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may seem like it is never enough;
But is that any reason not to give your Best
anyway?
You see, in the final analysis,
It is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
- Mother Theresa~
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