Forgiveness is Healing
Matthew 6:14,15 Yes, if you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, then your Father in heaven will also forgive your wrongs. But if you don’t forgive others, then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrongs you do.
Forgiveness isn’t something that you hear many people talk about in today’s world. And yet, the hurts of the past will never stop hurting until we forgive those who brought them upon us in the first place.
It’s amazing how many people seem to be chained to the hurts of the past in a never-ending cycle of unforgiveness. And that’s a big deal for Jesus. In fact, He had some intensely inconvenient things to say about our failure to forgive:
Matthew 6:14,15 Yes, if you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, then your Father in heaven will also forgive your wrongs. But if you don’t forgive others, then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrongs you do.
Remember … that’s Jesus saying that, not me. And His intent is plain for all to see.
We live under this false expectation that things have to be set right, that justice needs to be done, before we can let go and forgive. But so often, justice won’t be done. So often, the offender won’t realise their wrong and ask for our forgiveness. So often, the wrong isn’t resolved and tied up with some nice, neat little ribbon. Then what? Well, then Jesus is calling us to give up our right for recompense the way He did for us on that brutal Cross.
Think about it. He gave His life so that you and I could be forgiven. How fair did that seem to Him, as He hung on the weight of those cruel nails through His hands and feet in those terrible hours?
And yet, through His wounds, we were healed.
And in the same way, when we make that sacrifice in our hearts – there is always a cost to forgiveness – He sets us free from the hurts of the past.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Kathie Knudsen
Thank you so much for the daily devotion.. I home bound and life gets me down a lot – you lift me up! Thanks!!!
Thank you so much for the daily devotion.. I home bound and life gets me down a lot – you lift me up! Thanks!!!
MaryKay Larson
My youngest son, 24, died unexpectedly on Dec 28, 2020. My dad had passed away on Dec 14 a week earlier.He had a ...
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My youngest son, 24, died unexpectedly on Dec 28, 2020. My dad had passed away on Dec 14 a week earlier.He had a vibrant faith. We have a loving, caring church community too. But your daily Word has been a lifeline since I don’t seem to have the energy for a longer time of devotions. Thank you so much for keeping me in God’s Word.