Vessels of Mercy

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15

The Bible seems to speak of forgiveness in at least two different ways. In an ultimate sense, forgiveness refers to God's eternal pardon of all our sins when we look to Christ as the only One who can make us right with God (John 5:14; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:7). No action on our part - I'm going to say that phrase again. "No action on our part" can make that happen. This is the mystery of grace - God's undeserved favor to sinful men (Ephesians 2:8-9). Theologians call this "justification." Fully forgiven, we enter into relationship with a holy God.

Another kind of forgiveness mentioned in the Bible is the ongoing cleansing we need in order to maintain daily intimacy with God (1John 1:9). It is this second kind of forgiveness that Jesus speaks of in the verses above. If we refuse to show mercy to those who have wronged us, we distance ourselves from God and will cease to experience and appreciate his wonderful love.

As you come to know God and receive mercy for daily wrongs, ask yourself, "Have I forgiven all those who have wronged me?" Remember, "Forgiveness begins at home."

Let us pray: Today, Lord remind me of the shocking way in which you cancelled my debt of sin, and let that undeserved mercy move me to treat others with similar mercy. Amen.