[FamilyofGod] Forgive Before You Pray
Forgive Before You Pray
Forgiveness is an important attribute of Christian life. Without forgiveness there is no Christ nor Christianity. Our basic Christian life starts with forgiveness we receive for our sins freely from our Lord through the blood of Jesus Christ. And since we receive forgiveness from the Lord for the things we are not worthy of, we need to forgive others, for we are transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Jesus Christ repeatedly said about forgiving others in His sermons; indeed He has given it as a command and warning. (Then Peter came to Him and said, "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. Matthew 18:21,22). Here we see Jesus Christ saying we have to forgive the sins of brethren done against us. Jesus Christ hasn't classified the degree of sin or type of sin, that means we need to forgive everything that is done against us.
Jesus Christ gave us a command, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44, 45). Here Jesus Christ has commanded us to pray and bless those who hurt us – it may be physical, emotional or anything.
Sometimes we think that no one knows how I have been hurt by his/her words or actions and I cannot forgive him/her. And also we keep a barrier around some people stating, he/she has done like this before so I have to be careful. Then how is the light of Christ in us going to shine on them and how is the love of Christ going to flow through us to them? If we say so and don't forgive, we ourselves are preventing the grace of God flowing to us.
Jesus Christ gave us not only a command to forgive, but also a warning if we don't forgive. ("For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14,15). My dear ones, we may like it or not, this is the word of our Lord for me and you – if we forgive we will be forgiven, if not no. Even in the Lords prayer, Jesus Christ has taught us to pray "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12). Let unforgiveness not be our portion in Jesus name.
Looking unto ourselves or self righteousness, forgetting we are forgiven sinners and looking at others faults or judging others are three basic things that makes one an unforgiving person.
The worldly positions in this earth in society or family or work place or Church makes a person to look down upon others, Bible says all authority is made by God (Romans 13:1) and there is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11). We are made righteous only by the grace of our Lord (Titus 3:5-7) and by the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9). Everything we have and even our life on this earth is by the grace of God. We can remember the parable Jesus Christ said about two people praying in the Church (Luke 18:9-14). We can receive forgiveness from God only by humility and not by self righteousness. So, let us remember we are made righteous and everything including our life is by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Next, we should always remember that we are forgiven sinners. And each day when we go to Him asking for forgiveness, God by His mercy and grace forgives us. Just imagine, if one day God says no and turn His face, where we will be. In John 8:1-11, we read people brought a woman caught in adultery to be stoned to death. Jesus Christ said to them "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (John 8:7). Bible says from the oldest to the last, not even one person could throw a single stone at her (John 8:9). Let us look into our own self before looking into others faults and remember we were once sinners forgiven by our Lord; this will keep us in humility before God.
Many times we judge people based on their outlook or what the society or others tell about them. In Luke 7:36-50, we read about a sinful woman and Simon a Pharisee with Jesus Christ. Like Simon, instead of kissing the feet of Jesus Christ, crying at the feet of Jesus Christ and washing His feet with our tears, sometimes we also see the people who are at crying for deliverance from sin isn't it. Jesus Christ says "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:14). Our Lord expects us to bring everyone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and not look at others faults. Jesus Christ says, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." (Matthew 7:1). So, let us not look down upon others, but look unto Jesus Christ and bring others to the feet of Jesus Christ.
Hanging on the cross, Jesus Christ forgave all those who persecuted Him and pleaded to Father for their forgiveness. (Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:34). You may be saying, Jesus Christ being Son of God was able to do; Bible says, Stephen filled with Holy Spirit pleaded for the forgiveness of his persecutors when he was stoned to death (Acts 7:59,60). So, people like us also were able to forgive their tormentors in their death.
Let us remember the command by our Lord Jesus Christ and forgive everyone before going to the Lord in prayer, so that we receive forgiveness and grace from our Lord. If we have difficulty, let us ask our Lord to help in our weakness. Surely our Lord God rich in mercy will comfort and give us the strength through His Holy Spirit to humble ourselves and forgive others. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (Colossians 3:12)
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3:13)
Love & Prayers,
Michael J. Knight.
http://groups.
Forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them more.
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