Give Forgiveness

Bible Study

Mark 11:25a ESV

If there is one single thing that stands out as being the most difficult commandment Jesus gave, it would be forgiveness…or the lack of it.

In Mark 11:25a we read, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive.” It’s not given as a suggestion…it’s a command.

We have to remember that Jesus WAS God and when He looked at someone (or looks at someone) He could see the soul and mind. He knew (knows) everything about you.

Because He is God He can see ‘UN forgiveness’.

Know that our unforgiveness breaks His heart.

It doesn’t break his heart simply for the reason we might think it breaks his heart.

Many people think not forgiving someone might break Jesus heart because forgiving is a command and by not forgiving we aren’t being obedient.

‘Au contraire’

I would suggest we dig deeper into the heart of Jesus.

While not being willing to follow His commandment is a problem we need to look at the root of the problem. Not forgiving might have an impact on the person who has hurt us, but the lasting issue really impacts us more.

By NOT forgiving we are not bringing harm to the other person as much as we are bringing harm to our ‘self’.

We are choosing to carry our pain, our sorrow, and our anger at the other person.

We choose to make ourself miserable.

Now…let’s add a layer.

If we do not forgive Susie Jo more than likely we will also choose not to forgive Janey Lu. Now we’re carrying both boulders around.

We are choosing to be burdened and unhappy.

THAT is the underlying issue that breaks Jesus’ heart. The love Jesus has for every one of us means He sees our sorrow.

Jesus sees the burden we are choosing to carry.

On the flip side, if we turn to God and ask for the power of God to give us the ability to forgive Susie Jo and Janey Lu, we unleash the power of God to give us the ability to forgive and move on.

It is NOT something Jesus will force us to do. The Spirit will urge us to choose to forgive but the Spirit will not force us.

God is not a dictator.

God gives us the choice and speaking the words, ‘ I forgive them’ opens that door.

Once again, God will not force us.

We must choose to forgive and until we do make that choice we will carry the burden.

BAAM.

The ball is in our court.

Deborah

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