“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark. 11:25.
Forgiveness is not just a one-time act, but a way of life, meant to bring us into every blessing in Christ. “I say unto you. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:44-45. According to Jesus, forgiveness isn’t a matter of picking or choosing whom we would forgive. We can’t say, You’ve hurt me too much, so I’m not forgiving you. Jesus tells us, “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?” Matt. 5:46.
Over years of my knowing God and my ministry, I have seen terrible devastation in the lives of those who withheld forgiveness. Yet, I also have seen the glorious power of a forgiving spirit. Forgiveness transforms lives, causing the windows of heaven to open. It fills our cup of spiritual blessing to the brim with abundant peace, joy and rest in the Holy Ghost. Jesus teaching on this subject is very specific, and if you want to move in this wonderful realm of blessing, then heed and embrace his words.
“If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” Matt. 6:14-15. Make no mistake: God isn’t making a bargain with us here. He is not saying, Because you’ve forgiven others, I will forgive you. We can never earn God’s forgiveness. Only the shed blood of Christ merits forgiveness of sin. This goes hand in hand with his Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt. 5:7. His point: Forgive others, so you can move in to the blessings and joy of sonship. God can then pour on tokens of his love. And when you forgive, you’re revealing the Father’s nature to the world.
FURTHER READING:
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Col. 3:13.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32.
DECLARATION:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for another day and the privilege of Your goodness towards me. You are my shepherd, and I do not come to the place of lack. Jesus came that I might have life and have it more abundantly. Having received the abundance of grace and gift of righteousness, I reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ. The Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant, and Abraham’s blessings are mine, therefore I dominate in Jesus name. Amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Joel. 3:1-21. Amos. 1:1-15. Amos. 2:1-16. Amos. 3:1-15.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
“Learning Comes From Education, While Knowing Comes From Revelation. Learning Is Cognitive, While Knowing Is Spiritual.”
The Fortress Int’l Church, 2 Floor 10 Coker Road, Opposite Chicken Republic Ilupeju Lagos, Nigeria. http://www.thefortresschurch.com. Email:info@thefortresschurch.com.
