FORGIVE...OR ELSE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Mark 11:25

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

When we look to the essence of the Bible, we can see where love is at the center of what God was doing from beginning to end. It was first and foremost when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandments and even He drew from the Old Testament scriptures as He formed His answers (Matthew 26:36-39, Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18).

It was love that was at the center of God’s desire to bring salvation to all people for we are told in the scriptures that He held such affection for the world that He did not wish for anyone to perish but rather to have the opportunity to live forever through His Son, Jesus (John 3:16).

And it was in Jesus Himself that we find love personified, a love that would go as far as laying His life down for others, a self-sacrificing agape love that we are to be willing to resort to if needed (1 John 3:16).

Yes, if you’re looking at the heart of the scriptures, you will find love, the love of God who was willing to offer His Son as a sin sacrifice to save us and the love of Jesus who was willing to go through with it.

We are to love God, love Jesus, and love one another. That is a clear and non-negotiable expectation.

We’re also supposed to forgive. That also is a clear and non-negotiable expectation.

Frankly, the two go hand-in-hand because a lack of willingness to forgive someone will be the kryptonite which prevents love to happen. It’s little wonder why the Bible addresses the matter head on and ensures God’s people know that there are consequences for refusing to forgive.

Major consequences.

At the heart of those penalties is losing the forgiveness of God Himself, a pardon necessary for us to live outside of His wrath and judgment. Look at these scripture passages (including the one for today’s message) that affirm what’s at stake for rejecting opportunities to absolve other from wrongs they may have committed:

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25

Going back to the matter of love, the Bible lets us know that we only know how to love because the Lord loved us first (1 John 4:19). The same can apply to the matter of forgiveness. When we look to God for the way to bridge the sin separation that keeps us apart from Him, we find forgiveness through His Son Jesus, the atoning Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of us all (John 1:29). Through Jesus, the penalty for sin has been paid and we are pardoned when we believe He is our Savior. And when we truly realize and understand the depth of forgiveness God has extended toward us, then, in turn, we are supposed to extend it to others. This is not optional.

But you might think, there’s just no way I can bring myself to forgive a certain person because of the terrible things they did to me or someone close to me. The scriptures aren’t going to let you off the hook to forgive because we only need to look to the cross and see Jesus crucified there, suffering the most horrific, humiliating execution possible during His time despite His complete innocence, and yes, He looked at those who brutalized and mocked Him, and then looked to the heavens, saying this to God, His Father and ours:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Frankly, if Jesus can forgive those who had mistreated Him in that situation, we can forgive anyone ourselves. We only need to look to Jesus to see what forgiveness looks like and how we must do it, even when convention would say we shouldn’t.

In the end translation, we must forgive…or else.  

God commands it. He and Jesus did it themselves.

And if they did it, so can we.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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