Forgiveness
Forgiveness… how often do we hear this spoken of in some form or fashion? We are reminded in God’s word that if we do not forgive others He will not forgive us. It is a compelling and perhaps even horrifying statement for those who hold unforgiveness in their hearts. Yet sometimes we wrestle with our own warped sense of justice. Sometimes our hearts cry out for pay back and even blood. Yet we are reminded in God’s Word that our hearts are wicked and deceitful.
We pick up sacks and drape them over our shoulders. Each time we dwell in the pain and refuse to forgive it is essentially as though we are stooping over, picking up a brick and placing it in our sack. At first we hardly notice it, it’s barely a burden at all. But as time goes on the bricks multiply. Our sacks grow heavy and we grow weary. If we do not surrender them, we will eventually collapse under the weight of our burdens.
Jesus knew what unforgiveness would do to our hearts. He knew the toll that it would take. He knew the heavy burdens that we would carry in our sacks. This is just one more reason that he invites the weary and heavy laden to come to Him.
We do not have to carry these burdens. We do not have to carry these bags full of bricks. We do not have to remain stooped over beneath the weight of so much pain. Unforgiveness takes captives but Jesus sets men free.
You may say, “But you don’t understand.” You may say, “But you have not seen what they have done to me. I am bruised and scarred. I am broken and battered. I have been wounded with the most egregious of intent.” Jesus understands. He has the scars in His hands, on His feet and in His side to prove it. He endured the shame of the cross for your wrongs. He took the lashes from the whip, the crown of thorns placed upon His head, the spitting, the mocking and ultimately the cross for the sins that you have committed against God. Yet in acceptance of this selfless act you have received forgiveness and you have been given the freedom to forgive others. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!
I declare on this day that you are free to forgive others of their sins against you.
I declare on this day empty sacks and full hearts.
I declare on this day that you can approach the foot of the cross and lay all your burdens down.
Rejoice for you have been forgiven!
~ Mitch Salmon
Mitch Salmon is a follower of Jesus Christ and proclaimer of the Good News – The Gospel of Christ Jesus!
Thank You dear brother. Let us pray for one another.
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray this hour for those who are in need of healing in their bodies and in the body of their family members. I pray for hearts to be warned by your love and that those in need recieve forgiveness so they may forgive others. You great love can melt away our troubles, so we pray this hour that your love be in them. I know you hear the voice of your children and I thank you for your impartation of healing this hour. Thank You My dear father for your son, who died on the cross and carried our sins so that we might come before your throne and recieve the promises and blessings of Deutoronony 28. Bless you dear Father for your son and His great sacrifice. We thank you now
for Jesus Christ’s obedience so we may recieve all he deserved. We bless you dear Lord and King.” Amen
Dear brothers and sisters, because of Christs obedience all of us that believe on him will recieve bountiful blessings, healing and good things not based on our effort but Christ’s obedience.
Deuteronomy 28 says:
“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God: Your towns and your fields will be blessed. Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. “The LORD will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven! “The LORD will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. “If you obey the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways, the LORD will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you. “The LORD will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14 NLT)
Your Father loves you and doesn’t wish disaster to ever befall his children. We should pray for one another and help one another. As Paul writes,
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9 NLT)
May those suffering hour recieve peace knowing our Father loved you so he sent his only son to be your healing and peace. He is working on your behalf and loves you deeply. Praise our Savior and King Jesus. I thank God for your church family and pray you recieve the Lord’s goodness and mercy.