Daily Devotional – Friday, September 2, 2022
So, My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.
Matthew 18:35 (NKJV)
y two younger siblings were quarreling. I intervened. The older one started mellowing and almost apologized. I asked the younger one to forgive her brother. She refused, flatly. First, she did not believe her brother was apologetic. Second, she stated that we could not force her to forgive if she was not willing to.
What an obstinate person! I told myself. I turned to her again and reminded her that she was a Christian and that forgiveness was not optional. She retorted that she did not feel like forgiving her brother and would consider doing so in her own time. She would not pretend to forgive us in order to please us. She was still hurting.
If You do not Forgive From Your Heart
Later, when I reflected on the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, I realized my sister was right. In the conclusion to the parable, Jesus stated, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:35).
Notice the emphasis on forgiving from the heart. It is easy to say we have forgiven an offender because we want normalcy to return, yet we remain with hurting hearts. Sometimes we forgive in public but proceed to plot revenge in secret.
The Holy Spirit and Forgiveness From the Heart
Forgiveness from the heart means our hearts are clean in relation to the wrongdoer. It implies our intentions are sincere and that we are willing to restore broken relationships. That way, we do not keep reminding the offender of his or her sins.
Considering our fallen human nature, we can only forgive from the heart when prompted by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Instead of offering fake pardon, like my sister would have opted to do, ask the Holy Spirit to help you forgive others from your heart, because only then will God forgive you your sins.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, come into my heart and teach me how to forgive others from my heart.
Dear friend, to ensure we continue serving you with daily devotionals without fail, please do the following:
In a world full of worry and anxiety, you need this collection of 365 incisive and inspiring Bible-based devotionals. Read the book for free on Kindle and get your paperback copy from Amazon today: https://amzn.to/3Ey6AZu
Are you a young person looking for verified and reliable counsel in every aspect of your life? Are you a parent of a teenager looking for a Bible-based resource to help you bring up your child? This is the perfect book for you. Get your copy on Amazon now: https://amzn.to/3N7UQ3i