"Forgiveness Heals"

One of the greatest weaknesses in Christians is the inability to forgive as Christ forgives. This is a very sad but concerning state to know that people who call themselves Christ like “christians” are gripped with unforgiveness and are living in a prison that they have put themselves into. In Colossians 3;12-13 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. The scriptures exhort us to forgive others freely as Christ Jesus has freely forgiven us. Even the Lord’s prayer that Jesus taught his Disciples to pray includes forgiving others: “For give us our debt/trespasses, as we forgive our debtors/trespassers.'' This implies that we are asking the Lord to forgive us to the same degree we forgive others. Just as I forgive others, Jesus forgives me the same way. “The Unforgivable Sin of Unforgiveness!” We see in another area of scriptures that Peter came to Jesus and asked him Lord , how often must we forgive? Up to seven times seven? Jesus replied ‘I do not say to , up to seven times but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents. He was not able to pay so his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant fell down before him saying, Master , have patience with me, and I will pay it all. Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him by the throat , saying pay me what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him saying have patience with me, I will pay you all. And he would not, but went and threw him in prison till he could pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what he had done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, “You wicked servant!” I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? And his master wa angry, and delivered him to the tortures until he should pay all that was due to him. “So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother and his trespasses.” Matthew 1;21-35 Jesus gave us this illustration to reveal to us what His heavenly Father will do to us if we do not forgive others from our hearts the ones who did us wrong. Biblical forgiveness must come from the heart. Not to be just verbal or soulish but rise from the depth of our beings, our hearts. In this story the masters all represent God, and the servants the people. In some way or form we are all guilty of having unforgiveness in our hearts. I know today that I have gone through many trials and challenges in my christian walk with the Lord concerning unforgiveness. The greatest tool or bate the enemy used is offense which will lead to bitterness and unforgiveness. As we enter into offense taking it on and begin to rehearse the offense that we were offended with, the enemy will keep using it to keep us in bondange. We now enter into a prison that we have created and set up for ourselves by coming into agreement with the enemy. Now we are captives in that offense and bitterness and unforgiving spirit sets in to keep us there. Too many christians have become victims of this sin of unforgiveness, they might verbally confess it, but their hearts are not in the right place to be able to release that forgiveness to the person that hurt them or offended them. As the Month of April came alone I began to think about this and as I was doing a daily devotional the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about this sin.As I read the journey of Jesus from being a hero on Palm Sunday when He entered Jerusalem and from the shouts of Hosanna to the shouts of Crucify Him! Only a week later they were celebrating the Lord and now their hearts had turned against Him and cried out and shouted crucify Him! Jesus had every right to be offended and to turn to anger and rage against these people, yet He chose compassion and forgiveness in and from His heart! They had broken bread with Him and drank from the cup with HIm. His very own denied Him and turned their backs on Him. Jesus was always moved with compassion and forgiveness, He forgave from the heart and He showed compassion on all people even His enemies. The very ones that pierced His side and dug the nails into His hands, those that dug the crown of thorns on His head and whipped Him and beat Him. Jesus is the greatest expression of forgiveness and compassion that ever lived on the earth! God sent Jesus to all of humanity to redeem and forgive humanity of its shortcoming all the way back to the garden with Adam and Eve! How can we say that we cannot forgive and state this entitlement that we have the right to hold onto unforgiveness towards someone that hurt us or offended us. “My Lord please forgive us for the lack of compassion and love and unforgiveness towards others.” Help us Lord to be more like you and conformed to you, this is where we are changed and transformed into your image but also into your character. Let us forgive the way you forgave and the way you continue to forgive us daily as we pray! The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pastor Mary Di Paolo Nero