Basic HTML Version
Have a Forgiving Spirit, January 5
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 6:14, 15
, NRSV.
Our savior taught His disciples to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors.” A great blessing is here asked upon conditions. We ourselves state these
conditions. We ask that the mercy of God toward us may be measured by the mercy
which we extend to others. Christ declares that this is the rule by which the Lord
will deal with us. “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.” Wonderful terms! but how little are they understood or
heeded.
One of the most common sins, and one that is attended with most pernicious
results, is the indulgence of an unforgiving spirit. How many will cherish animosity
or revenge and then bow before God and ask to be forgiven as they forgive. Surely
they can have no true sense of the import of this prayer or they would not dare
to take it upon their lips. We are dependent upon the pardoning mercy of God
every day and every hour; how then can we cherish bitterness and malice toward
our fellow sinners! If, in all their daily relations, Christians would carry out the
principles of this prayer, what a blessed change would be wrought in the church
and in the world! This would be the most convincing testimony that could be given
to the reality of Bible religion....
We are admonished by the apostle: “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor
that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to
another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Paul would have
us distinguish between the pure, unselfish love which is prompted by the spirit of
Christ, and the unmeaning, deceitful pretense with which the world abounds. This
base counterfeit has misled many souls. It would blot out the distinction between
right and wrong, by agreeing with the transgressors instead of faithfully showing
them their errors. Such a course never springs from real friendship. The spirit by
which it is prompted dwells only in the carnal heart.
While Christians will be ever kind, compassionate, and forgiving, they can
feel no harmony with sin. They will abhor evil and cling to that which is good,
at the sacrifice of association or friendship with the ungodly. The spirit of Christ
will lead us to hate sin, while we are willing to make any sacrifice to save the
sinner.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:170, 171
.
[13]
12