Forgiveness: You Don't Give--You Don't Get

From The Bait of Satan (John Bevere)

...the Lord showed him a vision of hell. He saw his wife's mother burning in the flames of hell. He was amazed. She had said the "sinner's prayer," confessed to being a Christian, and had attended church. 

"Why is she in hell?" he asked.

The Lord told him that she had refused to forgive a relative and therefore could not be forgiven.

Matthew 6:
¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Prayer:  In Jesus name, I ask your forgiveness for holding unforgiveness against -----. Lord, I know I cannot forgive in my own strength. I have already failed, but before You now I release them from my heart. I forgive -----. Amen.

John explains earlier in this chapter how we seldom mean what we say and don't fully believe what other people tell us. But he cautions us that we need to take God at His word.

What do you think--should we take Jesus at his word? Do you think Jesus had something more to say about forgiveness?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Why We Need To Forgive

WHY WE NEED TO FORGIVE
Recognize that forgiveness is an act of your will not your emotions. If you wait until you feel like forgiving, you will live with bitterness in your heart and that bitterness will destroy you.

Recognize that forgiveness heals you! Forgiveness is not necessarily for the person who hurt you-it sets you free. You're not submitting to their brutality, condoning their injustice toward you, or white washing the words or deeds of your offender. You are forgiving to bring cleansing to you! Forgive your enemies; it's the only way to liberate your mind and emotions from the toxic poison of that painful memory.

Life Application Bible