Has God forgiven you your sins? If God has been merciful me, how can I not extend His mercy to others?
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:7-8
After the prayer Jesus taught us to pray always, He attaches this statement. Wow! It must be important to tie it directly to this great prayer, in the lesson.
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge” Luke 12:57-58
Do you hold resentment to others? Have you been wrongly and so feel your anger is justified?
How much more then must you turn to the Holy Spirit to give forgiveness to you. Not forgiveness of you but to you, that you can give it away – even to someone undeserving of your mercy.
God comes with His mercy, giving first right to that Divine Mercy to the most undeserving. Divine Mercy in My Soul # 1541.
And now this is where being a disciple of Jesus and apostle of mercy gets tricky. This is when you are called to give mercy as you’ve received. And, I guarantee the amount of mercy shown you by God is a million times more than what others need of you.
“Oh but I’m so angry at xxxx, he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. He doesn’t deserve my mercy. I just can’t…”.
First, stop, turn around and look up at Calvary. He easily could say this of you, but He doesn’t. He climbs upon the cross, looks at YOU and says, “Father, forgive them..” (Luke 23:34).
Next, to the “I can’t” – remember what is impossible for man is possible for God. (Matthew 19:26).
Just forgive. If you still feel resentment, forgive again and again and again – 7 times 70 times. And, each time turn to the Holy Spirit, “this is so hard, please give me forgiveness.”
