February 27, 2012 | Leave a comment Today, Monday February 27, 20112 is Day 3 of preparing our hearts, souls, and minds for Easter Sunday. Today I must “put off” the sin of being unforgiving and I must “put on” forgiveness. Remember our goal is to consider every area of our lives over which Jesus may not have complete control. We need to ask God to take these aspects of our life and have his way in the whole of our lives. Why is not forgiving others such a big deal? It is very simple; if I want God to forgive me then I must be willing to forgive you. At the end of the Model Prayer Jesus adds the following statement about the importance of forgiving others. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14–15 (ESV) Could it be stated any more plainly? I don’t know about you but I have plenty which I need God to forgive in my life, therefore I must forgive others, if for no other reason than the fact that I need God to forgive me. How many times must I forgive someone else. Peter asked Jesus this question also. 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21–22 (ESV) Let me save you the trouble of doing the math 7o times 7 is 490. Lest you think that you are going to have to develop a better system for record keeping let me explain what I think Jesus is teaching us. The number “7” is a special number in the Scriptures. The number “7” symbolizes perfection or completion. Jesus is not telling Peter to keep better records but is illustrating a point he has already taught us. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:2 (ESV) Forgiving others becomes easy when I remember all the sins that God has had to forgive in me. Like Peter we often think in our fallen flesh nature that we are being compassionate and gracious when we say “Lord I’ll forgive them 7 times,” that should be enough to be considered magnanimous. Jesus teaches that when it come to forgiving we are not to be busy counting but are to be concerned instead with forgiving completely. As you read this devotion who is God the Holy Spirit prompting you to forgive? I think that this subject has been adequately dealt with in this devotion to this point. If God the Holy Spirit has prompted you to forgive someone then case closed. DO IT! If you need more convincing then keep reading. In his book Alone With God: The Power and Passion of Prayer John MacArthur points out seven reasons for forgiving others. Perhaps his words will help in convincing you to forgive. 1. A Characteristic of the Saints. As citizens of God’s kingdom we are blessed and receive mercy because we ourselves are merciful (Matt. 5:7). We are to love even our enemies because we have the nature of our Heavenly Father residing in us. Just before giving this model prayer, Jesus instructed His audience, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, ‘love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven’ ” (Matt. 5:43–45). Blessing those who persecute you is tantamount to forgiveness. By loving your enemies, you manifest that you are a child of God. Forgiveness is the mark of a truly regenerate heart. When a Christian fails to forgive someone else, he sets himself up as a higher judge than God and even calls into question the reality of his faith. 2. Christ’s Example. The Apostle Paul instructs us to “be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32). John tells us, “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6). Jesus Himself is our pattern for forgiveness. On behalf of those who drove the nails through His hands, spit in His face, mocked Him, and crushed a crown of thorns onto His head, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). He is our role model. The severity of any offense toward us cannot match what Christ endured. The writer of Hebrews said, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (12:4). 3. Expresses the Highest Virtue of Man. A man displays the majesty of his creation in the image of God when he forgives. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” 4. Frees the Conscience of Guilt. Unforgiveness not only stands as a barrier to God’s forgiveness but also interferes with peace of mind, happiness, satisfaction, and even the proper functioning of the body. According to 2 Corinthians 2:10–11, when we have an unforgiving heart, we give Satan an advantage over us. 5. Benefits the Body of Believers. Probably few things have so short-circuited the power of the church as unresolved conflicts among its members. The psalmist warns, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Ps. 66:18). The Holy Spirit cannot work freely among those who carry grudges and harbor resentment (Matt. 5:23–24). 6. Delivers from God’s Discipline. Where there is an unforgiving spirit, there is sin; and where there is sin, there will be chastening. Hebrews 12:6 says, “Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom he receives.” Unrepentant sin in the church at Corinth caused many believers to be weak, sick, and even to die (1 Cor. 11:30). 7. Activates God’s Forgiveness. The activation of God’s forgiveness is probably the most important reason we must forgive others. This reason is so vital that Jesus reinforces it at the close of His pattern for prayer (vv. 14–15). Nothing in the Christian life is more important than forgiveness—our forgiveness of others and God’s forgiveness of us. Because God deals with us just as we deal with others, we are to forgive others as freely and graciously as God forgives us. Are you there yet? Where? To the place where you can be obedient and “put off” unforgiveness and “put on” forgiveness! Do it, you will be glad you did!