To be Forgiven is to Forgive

Mark 11:20-26 God does not operate in a cafeteria style relationship. One does not go into a warehouse and select the benefits and responsibilities that “meet his needs.” Certainly, there are items that pertain to one person’s calling and not to another. We all want a promise of heaven, answered prayer, peace, joy, health, etc., etc. We want a relationship with God when it’s convenient. We want God to have a relationship with us when there is good stuff coming down. For the most part we want the benefits without the responsibilities. One of the chief elements in our salvation experience through Christ is the forgiveness of our sins, because with our sins not forgiven, we are not saved. There are several things that God extends toward us and in turn we have the responsibility to extend them to others also. One important area is that of love I John 4:11 “...Since God so loved us, we ought to love one other.” Another area, the one today’s scripture speaks to, is in the area of forgiveness. Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” I’m sure there are many areas that are very difficult to forgive because of the memories and feelings that are attached. To forgive is a conscious act and decision of our will and has nothing to do with our feelings about it. Forgetting is another matter. We often say, ‘I can forgive, but I cannot forget.” This is true, but God, over time, can help us change the way we remember it. To forgive is not to let some one abuse us again, but to take our hands off the matter so that God can deal with it in His way and in His time.