Together in Christ: 'A Hard But Liberating Truth' — Matthew 6:14-15

Based on email feedback from over twenty-six years of online ministry and daily devotionals, the most challenging spiritual necessity for most people is to forgive those who have hurt, wounded, and taken advantage of them. Nevertheless, this is the one focused command that Jesus tied to His model prayer, the Lord's Prayer. In addition, Jesus came back to a similar teaching stressing the essentiality of forgiveness later in His ministry. ^[1] Today's verses are Jesus' follow-up to the portion of the prayer that says:

"…and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. ^[2]

At first glance, Jesus' words seem to make God's forgiveness of our sins conditional on our forgiving those who sin against us. In a sense, this is true because God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing to others. ^[3] A better image, perhaps, is a geographical metaphor used over the centuries that comes from Israel's topography, the comparison of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is fed by the blessings of rain that run into its watershed. The Sea of Galilee is rich in abundant life and shares its waters with the Jordan River, which flows out of it and blesses the whole valley with water and abundant life. However, the Dead Sea receives the blessings of the Jordan River, and because it is over 1400 feet below sea level, the water isn't shared and stagnates. Its high salt concentration means little or nothing lives in or close to it.

When we refuse to forgive, we stagnate the forgiveness God longs to give us. We hold onto our bitterness and hurt, clogging our hearts to receive the life-giving grace God longs to give us that can refresh our souls as we bless others. As I have heard it expressed, "Forgiveness is releasing the captive bird from its cage, then realizing that we were the captive bird." Until we forgive others, we can't experience God's full, free (for us), loving, and undeserved forgiveness of God. When we do not forgive, we hold ourselves captive to the past and our bitter resentments.

We are correct when we say," I can't forgive and forget!" But God doesn't command us to forget. Only the Holy Spirit, over time and based on our commitment to and actions of forgiveness, can erase the pain of past offenses. So, let's take the first steps toward our souls' freedom. Let's begin forgiving others while we ask for the Holy Spirit to empower God's love ^[3] to help us forgive. Let's ask the Spirit to help us release our captive souls from the cages of our bitterness, hatred, and resentment. As Paul, the apostle, said:

And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
 
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. ^[4]