JDL - Direction Twenty-nine - The importance of forgiveness

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12 (ESV))

The most beautiful words in the world are “Your sins are forgiven.” There are no more beautiful words than these. These words are the most beautiful words because we know that with forgiveness comes life and salvation.

When counseling young couples who are about to be married, and even when preaching a wedding sermon, I like to talk about the importance of forgiveness, but I like to do so in the context of what our society says is important. Many people will tell you that the most important thing in any relationship is communication. Some people go on and on about the importance of communication. Some people will outline the three basic forms of communication, or the five steps to good communication. And yes, communication is important.

First, we want to understand that communication is important in all relationships because without communication a relationship could easily fall apart. If we do not talk to each other, we may become suspicious of one another or even have a wrong idea about the other party because we have not heard from them. Although, even as I say that, I do know of relationships that are easily picked up as good relationships even after lengths of time apart. Anyway, communication is important, but it is not the most important thing in a relationship.

The most important thing in every relationship is the forgiveness of sins. I can easily and quite well communicate to someone how much I do not like them or even hate them, but that is not something good to communicate. But, when I have done something wrong to or against someone, I can ask for and be given forgiveness which means the deed is erased, forgotten and is no more.

It is important that I forgive because, as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), if I do not (or even think that I cannot) forgive, then I am asking God to not forgive me. If I cannot forgive then how can I expect God to forgive me (Matt. 6:14-15)? It is actually the Good News of the Gospel that we know that the sins which have been committed have already been forgiven, which moves us to confess our sins. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for all sins, even those which we have yet to commit. Certainly that does not gives us a license to sin, but it does give us the comfort of knowing that as we have been forgiven, so we may forgive others.

How can we be directed by Jesus when we have malice in our hearts? When we forgive others with the Lord’s help as we have been forgiven, we open our hearts to be led and directed by Jesus. As He directs us, we are led and directed to forgive as we have been forgiven. As we are forgive and as we forgiven, this works to strengthen our relationship with our Lord and with each other. This in turn gives us the confidence to continue to love and forgive.

Think About
Do you hold malice for anyone in your heart? Is there anyone you have not forgiven? If you have not forgiven, so you are refusing the very forgiveness you are not giving.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the greatest gift and blessing, forgiveness of sins. As You have already paid the price for all my sins, so I confess all my sins, in thought, word and deed, sins of omission and sins of commission. Help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.