Lesson 184: Forgive and Be Forgiven

  
Pastor J. W. Binion
Pvt. Edward F. Arthur Camp 1783 SCV
5th Ky. Infantry CSA

The Gospel of St. Matthew chapter 6 verses 14 & 15 say (New Century Version): “Yes, if you forgive others their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But, if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.” In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesian Church 4th chapter, 32nd verse (NIV) we read, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

The Lord has placed the subject of forgiveness upon my heart. Forgiveness is one of the hardest things for human beings to do. Even born-again Christians, who praise God for the forgiveness of their sins and the sacrifice made for that forgiveness, find it hard (sometimes even impossible) to forgive others for insults and other behaviors that tend to hurt us. One of the things that counselors and therapists will agree upon is that the inability to forgive others is a definite cause of many anxieties and depressions.

My brothers and sisters, I speak from personal reflection and experience. There have been many times in my life when I allowed the slings and arrows of insult, pettiness, lack of compassion, and just plain meanness to consume my thinking. Yes, there are people (especially espoused Christians) that just don’t get it; they don’t understand the teachings of the Saviour as to their treatment of others. Those folks really tighten my jaws and sometimes they make me angry. It takes me a while to get a grip on my human side and allow the Lord to awaken my mind.

When I pay attention I find that, even though it is against my natural side, I must forgive those narrow-minded, cold-hearted, pride-filled folks of their actions toward me. If I am to be forgiven for my sins, by my heavenly Father, I must forgive other human beings. Even when those people don’t respond to forgiveness, we must forgive them; if we are going to live the life of a Christian (that means “Christ like”).

Remember the parable our Lord gave us concerning the servant that owed the master an extreme amount of money? When that indebted servant begged the master for forgiveness of the debt, the master consented to wipe out the amount owed and not put him to death (or putting his family in jail of life). The forgiven servant then fails to forgive someone who owed him a small sum. What happened? The master recalled the original debt and took everything from that unforgiving servant. Is that what we want our Father to do to us?

I recently sent an email to a brother asking him to forgive me of any insult or injury that I have committed against him. To date I have not received a response from that brother. It doesn’t matter; the act of forgiveness is now on him, for I have followed my Lord’s admonition to seek forgiveness from someone I feel I may have offended. That is another part of forgiveness we are to follow: ask the one we might have offended to forgive you (even if you don’t think you’re wrong). I do pray that brother will forgive any wrong I might have done but that is his decision.

When we go the Lord for forgiveness we must be willing to both forgive and seek forgiveness from other humans that we might have wronged or who have done us wrong. We can not dwell upon the past, we must let it go, and move forward to serve the Master. When you seek forgiveness, with a true heart, the Lord will forgive whatever it is [says so in the Bible]. But remember, you who have been forgiven much must be willing to forgive much. May God lead your spirit in HIS paths. Your humble Chaplain, J. W. Binion