Published by admin on 08 Apr 2016 at 06:00 am
THE EDGE OF FORGIVENESS
“The Edge of Forgiveness” is kind of an odd topic, but that’s what the LORD gave me to write about today. Is it possible to be on the “EDGE” of forgiveness? Sure, and that’s a dangerous place to be, just like it’s dangerous to stand close to the edge of a cliff.
We can read in Matthew 18 where Jesus spoke about offences and forgiveness in verses 7-22. All day long we can look at the news and see politicians accusing one another, races being offended at each other, it never stops, does it? But what is the idea behind forgiving one another? Simple: so we may be SAVED!
Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Mat 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Mat 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
Mat 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
It’s real easy to get offended, and you don’t have to work at it, either, the devil will see to that. In verse 21, Peter was on the “edge” of forgiveness when he did like the Pharisees did, trying to find a loophole about forgiveness. He knew he SHOULD forgive, but was looking like WE do for an excuse NOT to. Well, if I forgive someone seven times, my obligation is over. Do it again and I don’t have to forgive anymore. But the Lord Jesus said, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
That’s a lot of times, 490 times, but don’t you know, there are many who keep count. ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? Are you walking around the edge of forgiveness, but won’t step in? Like I said, that’s like standing on the edge of a cliff, a dangerous place to be. There are many who will “forgive” but not “forget”. Well, if that’s the case, you’re on the edge of forgiveness, whether you realize it or not. Until you unconditionally forgive, you haven’t. No, I don’t know what that person may have done to you, but it doesn’t matter, you need to forgive them. That doesn’t mean you have to be friends with them and hang out with them. It just means you must forgive them.
Why? Well, don’t YOU want to be forgiven of YOUR sins? Remember when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray? Here’s what Jesus said:
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
In other words, you’re praying, LORD, if I don’t forgive everybody that has sinned against ME, then I don’t want you to forgive MY sins, either! Whoa, wait a minute Brother Jerry, I didn’t say that! Well, yes you DID if you’ve ever prayed the Lord’s Prayer, or if you’ve ever asked the Lord Jesus to forgive your sins. Now THAT, my friend, is a very sobering thought. If YOU don’t forgive others, neither will your heavenly Father forgive YOUR sins. Do you know what happens if your sins aren’t forgiven? Let me make it real simple for you: when you die, you will not enter the Kingdom of God, instead it will be the Lake of Fire. In other words, you won’t HEAR “Well done”, you will BE “well done”. Get the idea?
Don’t let offences stand in the way of your inheriting eternal life, it just isn’t worth it! You forgive them, and let GOD deal with the offender. You will find when you do that, your days will go better, you’ll have MUCH LESS complain about, and you’ll sleep a lot better, too. So don’t stand on the “edge of forgiveness”, take the leap into freedom from offences. You’ll never be sorry you did.