Letter From the Editors’ Desk. Did We Forget to Forgive and Forget?
Hello ePrayer Circle’s Tribe,
The devotional was powerful this morning. As I read the Bible daily, this week, I opened the bible each time to readings in the Old Testament about how God is not pleased with the conduct of His people and how His fury is to come upon them. They are not hearing and believing to get ready—the Trumpet is going to sound.
They are not turning away from sin and accepting His word. They are not repenting with remittance. They are idol worshipping, converting, slandering, lying, stealing, and committing all types of sexual sins. They do not fear the Lord.
Editor’s Note: The trumpet sound could mean wars, diseases, natural disasters, and fatal encounters with animals. Anything that will take out a lot of people or a nation at one time.
When I read things more than once in the same two days and notice a pattern around me, I take notice. It is the Holy Spirit’s teaching. The teaching focuses on forgiveness, biblical teachings, and personal reflection. This morning, I remembered an incident that recently happened when I was shopping in Walmart. Let’s talk about it.
Alt tag: #letterfromeditorsdesk
I was shopping, and all of a sudden, a 4-year-old boy ran into me. He looked up with an innocent, adoring face, expecting a response. So, I immediately asked him if he was alright and apologized. He assured me that he was okay and that everything was fine several times.
He knew I was a little upset. Although he did run into me, I wanted to show him kindness. I guess the grandmother in me didn’t want him to be sad. So, I picked up the item I wanted and started to turn toward checkout.
He pulled back his arm and hit me as hard as he could, which didn’t hurt, but I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say. I proceeded to check out and ignored him. While in line, I smiled as I thought, “He forgave me, but he still wanted payback.” Lord knows He ran into me.
Someone taught him that if someone hits you, you hit them back, even though I did not hit him, he wanted payback. I looked back, and he was still standing there, looking at me, wanting a response. I think his mother, father or grandparent(s) wrestled with him for play and he was ready.
I could not imagine doing that at that age to a stranger, especially a senior. Then I thought, many adults are like that. They want to get even for things they are actually at fault for. How many times have you forgiven someone but were still mad about it?
Many people will forgive but talk about it forever, exaggerating, and slandering people. They forgive but do not forget. Most people do not think about how many things God has forgiven them for without punishment or slander or payback.
The Bible teaches us, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15, KJV). When we refuse to forgive others, we hinder our spiritual growth and relationship with God.
alt tag: #forgiveness leads
Additionally, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19, KJV). It’s important to remember that God is in control and will handle matters of justice in His own time.
There is a story in the Bible about a man who owed the king money. If you owed back in those times and could not pay, you were put in jail. The king was kind and forgave the debt. Later, the same forgiven man was walking down the street and saw someone who owed him money. He asked for it, but the man did not have it. He ordered the man to be put in jail.
The king heard of it and said, “I forgave you, but you could not forgive others.” He put the man in jail for his debts. This story, found in Matthew 18:23-35 KJV, reminds us that our forgiveness of others should mirror the forgiveness we’ve received.
When you are forgiven, God does not hold it against you. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29, KJV).
When you pray in Jesus’ name upon repentance, you appear without sin by the Holy Spirit and the Blood of Jesus. However, if you do not forgive, He will not forgive you. That means your prayer life is hindered or blocked.
Reflect on the forgiveness God has shown you and how you can extend that same grace to others. Let us strive to forgive as we have been forgiven, ensuring our hearts are open and our prayers are unhindered.
Keywords: “Forgiveness in the Bible, God’s forgiveness, the power of forgiveness, revenge is mine saith the Lord, forgiveness and prayer, Matthew 6:14-15 KJV, forgive and forget, story of the unforgiving servant, Christian forgiveness, letter from the editor’s desk.”
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Alt tag: #The Bible Truth
CALL TO SALVATION
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:9-10 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation
John 3:5-6 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is the Spirit.
