Romans 2: 1-4 (ESV) “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgement of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgement of God? Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
The riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience that lead us to repentance is the key to exactly how we should treat each other. Every single one of us will somehow sin today. At least I can guarantee that I will. Most likely not on purpose but still I will fail God. If I am not willing to forgive someone who injures me or wrongs me, then how can I call on God to forgive me for the wrongs I do to Him?
You might be asking why I used scriptures about judging when I’m writing about forgiving. You see, I’m not talking about forgiving the guy who cut you off in traffic, or a co-worker who said something bad about you at work. I’m talking about brothers and sisters hurting each other. For example, I have issues with lazy Christians. But every time I judge someone as lazy, God steps in and shows me something lazy about my Christian Walk. It’s good that He corrects me, but He shouldn’t have to. His kindness leads me to repentance, and I can walk clean again.
So, there is no excuse and no justification for not forgiving others their sins against us. We all will at one time, or another hurt a fellow believer. Let’s have the strength and fortitude to love and forgive each other when our egos are mangled.
Jesus states quite plainly in Matthew 6: 14-15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Living a forgiving life is a life that dwells in freedom. It leads to the way of peace and directs us away from a life that boils in anger. Forgive each other and live in the grace and safety of your forgiving Father.
Amen?
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