Give What You Have Been Given

Warriors Arise: March 8, 2022

Matthew 6:12, 14 & 15 (NKJV)

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors...

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I receive forgiveness, so I give forgiveness.

It is so important to give what we have been given. Even before Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again three days later, He was teaching His disciples the importance of forgiveness. Forgiveness can be a very sticky concept. We can forgive for the little things but the ones that hurt deep, where expectations are shattered, can cause there to be a road block to freedom. Freedom comes on the other side of forgiveness.

Jesus, knowing our sin willingly went to the cross for each one of us. Why? Why could He go to the cross? Why could He forgive the people who hailed Him king of the Jews one day and later in the week were shouting, "Crucify! Crucify!" Why would He ask the Father to forgive them just before He takes His last breath?"

Maybe He had to ask God to forgive them, because God, being the best parent ever, would surely have come down from heaven and struck them Himself. He had the power to do so. It's maybe why He had to turn His back. If He had watched and listened any longer to the cruel shouts and taunting of those watching His Son die, He just might have smote them on the spot.

Why were the people still taunting Him, "If you are the Son of God come down from there?" Did they have no mercy, no compassion? Was their heart so full of pride that it was nothing but stone?

We have all had terrible things happen to us. If not, we have had atrocious things said about us. The lies, slander, and hypocrisy of peoples words against us can be more than we can handle. It is why forgiveness is a God-thing. Personally, I can say the words of forgiveness and mean them from my heart. I can truly want to be set free of the pain and torture their actions and words caused me. But even after speaking forgiveness to them for to the situation, I can still feel the pain, be extremely cautious around them, or be tormented by the replay of events. How do I get past this or let it go? How can I possibly move on? Honestly, I can't.

I can't do it without God. To gain freedom from the tormenting thoughts and the poisonous pain of the situation can only be removed and healed when I forgive as Christ forgives. I know they will stand before God in judgment for what they have done, so I have to ask God to forgive them. When I can do that, freedom has come to my heart and I can trust again; freedom has come to my mind and peace abides. It isn't enough for me to speak forgiveness to them or into the situation. I have to ask God to forgive them. When I can do this, healing comes.

I have sinned more times than I know. I know I would be completely crushed, if I knew all the times I sinned against God and others. I am thankful for those who have forgiven me even when I sinned against them in ignorance as well as in my arrogance. Therefore, I must return to God and forgive those who have sinned against me in ignorance and in arrogance. I must ask "God to forgive them for they know not what they do." I am not Jesus, but I can apply what I see He has done. Therefore, I ask God's forgiveness to be given on my behalf. I will not hold onto the wrong done to me. I will release it to God and ask Him to forgive them just has I have forgiven them. When the enemy comes to remind me of what they did to me, I say they deserve another chance. I am not the same as I was and I am hoping they are not either. I can't control the other person, but I can control how I respond to them.

I receive forgiveness, so I give forgiveness.

Father, there are times I get so frustrated, because I feel I am the only one doing the forgiving. It hurts when people want to remind me of my sin. It is disheartening that they can't see I have grown in Christ. I am not perfect, but I am also not who I used to be. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins against You and Your people. You reached out and loved me even when I was rude, arrogant, and ignorant of my behavior and the poison of my words. You forgave me each time. I pray for freedom to come to everyone I have hurt with my rudeness. I pray for freedom to come alive in those I treated with arrogance. I pray for freedom to come to those I hurt in my ignorance. I ask for You to draw them to Yourself and restore them in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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