"But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
- Matt. 6:15
 
Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness: if we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us. Why? Because when we don't forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God's forgiveness. God's forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means in Eph 4:32. It is easy to ask God for forgiveness, but difficult to grant it to others. Whenever we ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask ourselves, "Have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?"
 
Christians friends, there's peril in . . .

"But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
- Matt. 6:15
 
Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness: if we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us. Why? Because when we don't forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God's forgiveness. God's forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means in Eph 4:32. It is easy to ask God for forgiveness, but difficult to grant it to others. Whenever we ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask ourselves, "Have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?"
 
Christians friends, there's peril in withholding pardon from others. By failing to be merciful to the one who has sinned against you, you block the blessing of God's forgiveness that is so desperately needed in your own life.
 
O LORD, I ask on bended knee
That Thou wouldst help me be like Thee
In granting pardon full and free
To all who have offended me.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - To forgive the offense of another is commendable; to forget it is Christlike.