“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” —Matthew 6:12
Most of us have quoted the above petition from the Lord’s Prayer. The wording should lead us to ask ourselves, “What if God only forgave me to the extent that I’ve been willing to forgive those who’ve sinned against me?” It’s sobering to think about.
And it’s something we can’t ignore, for in the verses that follow directly after, we hear Jesus saying that if we forgive others, God will forgive us. But if we don’t forgive others, then God won’t forgive us (Matt. 6:14–15).
One of the biggest reasons people find it difficult to accept and experience God’s love and forgiveness is a refusal to forgive others. When we do so, something is blocked in our relationship with the Father. The Scripture affirms what our own experience confirms—a clear connection between our willingness to extend forgiveness to others and our ability to appropriate and experience His forgiveness for our sins.
If we’re holding on to bitterness, we can never hope to enjoy the full, sweet taste of God’s compassion and mercy.
Make it Personal
How can bitterness affect your ability to experience God’s love and forgiveness?