Anne Lamott, in her book Traveling Mercies, writes, “Not forgiving is like drinking poison and then waiting for the rat to die.”
I believe forgiveness is one of the most difficult choices to make in our life.
Are you holding a grudge against someone? Do you have a bitter spirit? I’d recommend that you stop drinking the “rat poison.”
Christians from every denomination, whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant, pray the Lord’s Prayer regularly. One of the most difficult lines in the prayer is this: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” I say this is one of the most difficult lines because so many people are not practicing what they pray. As a pastor for over 40 years, I have seen people who refuse to forgive. I think most of us, including me, have difficulty in this area. The word translated “forgive” in the New Testament, means to cancel a debt. Wouldn’t it be great if all of our financial debts were canceled! But there are some debts that have more severe consequences than a mortgage or car payment. One such debt is the debt we owe God. Paul told the Romans that the wages of sin is death. But God has forgiven us our sins if we come to Jesus Christ and receive that gift of forgiveness.
Jeremiah describes why this gift is so wonderful: “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
But we need to share that gift with others. Remember the prayer says forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there a debt you need to cancel? God is willing to cancel all of your debts through Jesus Christ. Are you willing to do that for someone else?
I believe forgiveness is one of the most difficult choices to make in our life.
Are you holding a grudge against someone? Do you have a bitter spirit? I’d recommend that you stop drinking the “rat poison.”
Christians from every denomination, whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant, pray the Lord’s Prayer regularly. One of the most difficult lines in the prayer is this: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” I say this is one of the most difficult lines because so many people are not practicing what they pray. As a pastor for over 40 years, I have seen people who refuse to forgive. I think most of us, including me, have difficulty in this area. The word translated “forgive” in the New Testament, means to cancel a debt. Wouldn’t it be great if all of our financial debts were canceled! But there are some debts that have more severe consequences than a mortgage or car payment. One such debt is the debt we owe God. Paul told the Romans that the wages of sin is death. But God has forgiven us our sins if we come to Jesus Christ and receive that gift of forgiveness.
Jeremiah describes why this gift is so wonderful: “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
But we need to share that gift with others. Remember the prayer says forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there a debt you need to cancel? God is willing to cancel all of your debts through Jesus Christ. Are you willing to do that for someone else?
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