Matthew 6:14-15 (New Living Translation)
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins”.
Matthew 18:21-22 (New Living Translation) – “ Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone[a] who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”
RECONCILIATION OPENS THE DOOR TO FREEDOM
When we refuse to forgive, the bitterness grows like a cancer within us and it eats away at us, causing stress, illness and a great lack of joy. The only therapy for this cancer is the surgery of forgiveness. When we refuse to forgive, we allow the sin that was committed against us to hurt us twice: once when we were first sinned against, and again by keeping us from receiving God’s forgiveness
Reconciliation is the ending of conflict or renewing of a friendly relationship between disputing people or groups. We must quickly reconcile our differences. We are dying a slow death when we do not forgive. Having a conflict is not the issue. Failing to resolve the conflict quickly is the issue. Reconciliation is forcing your natural mind to be controlled by your spiritual mind. Naturally, if we feel like we’ve been offended, then the offender should come to us and apologize. But when we are saved by God’s grace, knowing that God forgave us, our mind of Christ tells our hearts, you’ve been offended but you’re going to release your offender so that you can live at peace. That’s living a life pleasing to God!
Forgiveness is a commitment to a process of change. A way to begin is by recognizing the value of forgiveness and its importance in your life at a given time. Then reflect on the facts of the situation, how you've reacted, and how this combination has affected your life, health, and well-being. When you're sincere, and you’ve recognized your short comings, choose to forgive the person who's offended you. Move away from your role as victim and release the control and power the offending person and situation have had in your life. As you let go of grudges, you'll no longer define your life by how you've been hurt. But you can define your life by how you can truly begin to live again. Today is the day for reconciliation.
The Clark Sister’s sang a song that asked several questions.
· Question 1: Is my living in vain?
· Question 2: Is my giving in vain?
· Question 3: Is my fasting in vain?
· Question 4: Is my praying in vain?
· Question 5: Am I wasting my time?
· Question 6: Have I let my light shine?
· Question 7: Have I made ninety-nine?
· Question 8: Is my labor in vain?
· Question 9: Is my singing in vain?
· Question 10: Is my preaching in vain?
The truth is if you refuse to forgive it’s all in vain!
Is there someone who you need to forgive? Is there someone who you haven’t talked to in a long time because of what they did? Is there someone who you refuse to trust because of how they made you feel? Is there someone who you avoid like the plague, you won’t sit beside, you won’t even go near their direction, someone that every time you see them you just feel like spitting? Is there someone that you are waiting for an apology from before you offer forgiveness? Stop waiting on them and release them from the turmoil today. You must forgive them. Your own forgiveness relies on it.
We must forgive those who have hurt us as often as necessary because God commands it, because it frees us from bondage, because our own forgiveness hinges on it, also we must remember that’s exactly what Christ did for us. One day as God looked at His creation He decided He would forgive us of the sin that brought the sin curse upon us all. He needed a kinsmen redeemer that was worthy to stand in our stead. Jesus, the holy and pure son of God was willing to sacrifice His own life at a place called Calvary to pay the price of our sins. Although no man could find any fault in Jesus the crowd shouted crucify Him, crucify Him and it was done. Jesus, my Lord and Savior was beaten beyond recognition by the very people whom he would forgive. They beat Him until huge chunks of His flesh were ripped from His body by the brutal beatings endured. His body was tired and weak but because of His love for us, He allowed them to place an old rugged cross upon His open wounds and He carried it up the hill to Calvary. Understand that this was the punishment you and I should have endured we were the ones who sinned but Jesus paid our price through His suffering. On that very cross he had to carry, they nailed His hands and they nailed His feet to that old rugged cross. Then they raised Him up. That’s where they messed up because John 12:32 says, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
As He was raised they mocked Him and they spit upon him but Jesus didn’t hold any grudges. Luke 23:34a. (NLT) Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Jesus hung on that cross from the sixth to the ninth hour and finally he died. He was buried but on the third day He arose with all power in His hand. If you have been saved He has extended to you the power to forgive and the power to ask for forgiveness. If you have offended someone admit the wrong you've done to those you've harmed, apologize with sincere sorrow, without making excuses and reconcile your difference. If you have been offended, choose today to “Let it go so that you may live.”
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