Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

This sounds a lot like you earn God’s forgiveness. I forgive, God forgives me. I forgive again, God forgives me again. This way of thinking, I believe, goes completely against Who God is and what His word generally states. So what does this mean? I believe that Christ is addressing the state of the unforgiving heart. The consequence of an unforgiving heart is a heart that can’t be forgiven. At the time that I cannot forgive someone else, my heart is wrong with God…something is wrong with my very relationship to God. This puts me in a “position” with God that can’t accept His forgiveness. Have you ever known someone that can’t forgive? They are bitter and/or angry to some degree. A heart that has any bitterness or anger is not a vessel that can be filled with forgiveness; it is not a vessel that God can pour His forgiveness into. Forgive others. Position yourself so God can forgive you. An unforgiving heart is a heart closed to accepting God’s forgiveness. He freely pours out His forgiveness but is your heart closed with unforgiveness?