FORGIVENESS IS ESSENTIAL

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Good Evening to All!

First, let me apologize for not posting the answers to the Bible Challenge last night. As you know I don't normally have a Wednesday night post, and I hadn't thought about that Tuesday, when I chose to make up for Sunday' neglect of the Challenge. Anyway, hopefully you will still have your answers laying around somewhere and will check them according to the following:

1. d) Samson's (Judges 16:4)
2. b) Naomi's daughter-in-law (Ruth 1:3-4)
3. b) Jeremiah's (Jeremiah 36:4, 45:1)
4. b) temple musicians (1 Chronicles 6:31-44)
5. a) King David's wife (1 Samuel 25:43)
6. c) Saul (2 Samuel 3:7)
7. d) Joab (2 Samuel 18:13, 20:13)
8. c) Ahasuerus (Esther 1:19)
9. a) the high priest's servant whose ear was cut off as Jesus was being arrested (John 18:10)
10. c) helped carry Jesus' cross (Matthew 27:32)

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And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought (anything) against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may for give you your trespasses. Mark 25:11 KJV

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. (NIV)

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, you r heavenly Father will also forgive you. (16) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mat. 6:14-15)

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Have you ever thought about or realized how easy it is for a child or an animal to forgive? Maybe that was one reason Jesus said "and the little child shall lead them". Maybe that is why God says we must have faith as a little child. He makes many references to being like children. Maybe that is why God made "pride" a sin. When we are children, we don't worry so much about our pride. We worried more about people being angry with us whether it was our friends, or our parents. We didn't want anyone angry. As we got older and pride entered in, then our priorities changed, at least until we began to read God's Word and realize what He wanted from us and what it would take to "be saved".

Forgiveness is not easy, but it is a prerequisite for effective prayer, as we read in tonight's verse.

Unforgiveness eats a person up inside. When a person has turmoil inside, it is impossible for them to focus on anything but that turmoil. When we pray, God wants our focus on Him. If we have bitterness within us, we are not "right" with God. Being bitter with someone is definitely not showing love, and according to God's Word, we're suppose to show love all the time. That is called being "Christ-like". I also know that we are still human, and humans make mistakes. God knew this would happen when He made us. Especially after the "fall of man". This is where repentance comes in. No this is NOT an excuse to sin or be disobedient to God. Repentance is turning away from sin and (this particular thing) and not doing it again. (that's another post in itself).

Even when we are in the "right" unforgiveness and bitterness can consume us. It can rule our every emotion. I know first hand. I think God planned it that way. He doesn't like bitterness or unforgiveness. He cannot because He is LOVE, and love is forgiving. I bet I can guess what you are thinking right about now. You are thinking well, if God is LOVE, and love is forgiving, then how come the Bible says there will be people going to H---? Here is my reasoning. This is because there can be no sin in heaven. God says "if we love Him we will follow His commandments. Everything God tells us to do in His Word is a commandment. I have never read in His Word where He asks us to do anything. He always makes statements. Therefore there are no requests, just commands. Now, if we do not follow His commands (or commandments), then that is disobedience. Disobedience is a sin, and we're back to there is no sin allowed in heaven.

Forgiveness is liberation, freedom. When I "smartened up" and realized what I was doing to myself by not forgiving my sister (which I later on (2 years approximately) found out that this was a big mix up and it wasn't even her fault, I felt so cheated. Cheated because I had missed out on about 2 years of communication with my sister, 2 years of my stomach in knots whenever she would call and I would quickly think up excuses not to talk to her. What made it even worse is that I feel God had been dealing with me for a long time about this. I wanted to call her and talk to her. To explain how I felt and ask her why this particular thing happened, but I for one thing was too stubborn, and for another, I was afraid of the answer I might get. What if when I told her how I felt, she got angry and didn't want anything to do with me? It's kind of like I tell my husband (he can "dish it out but he can
take it) not on this subject of course, but that's kind of what was going on with me. It was ok for me to be angry with her, but not the other way around. Anyway, I finally worked up the courage and went to one of their revivals and we talked about it and worked it all out. All was forgiven and I could just feel the knots inside me getting smaller and smaller til they disappeared. I could feel the tension in my body just melt. I felt liberated! The bonds of unforgiveness and bitterness had been broken. I am just sorry that I wasted about 2 years before I did this. Now for the BIG QUESTION. How would I have felt if something happened to her or me for that matter and I still had bitterness in my heart? If something happened to me, I can tell you I know God would Not have forgiven me. He says that in His Word, and He cannot lie. So, I would be lost. What would happen if something happened to my sister before forgiveness was requested? I'm not sure, but I would assume the same, since I should have asked for forgiveness right after it happened. Not to mention it would still eat me up inside because I could never hear or say the words I forgive you, or I'm sorry. PLEASE! PLEASE! If you have any animosity, unforgiveness or bitterness in your heart, I beg you please talk to the person who it's about or with and resolve the issue before it's too late, before it's impossible to do so. Don't put your health or your soul for that matter at risk. (I hope that doesn't sound harsh) as I know that " getting souls to heaven" is a Pastor's job, but I just wanted to give you some "food for thought".

Good Night to All and May God Bless!