matthew 6:14KJV
for if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you
many Christians today misunderstand this verse, they feel God is giving them a condition. that the mercies of God comes with a condition that needs to be done before one can obtain it.
many today tend to forgive, not because they mean it or want to. rather we forgive because we want something from God. we want to appear holy at that particular moment so we can talk to the father. we feel we need to be right with God in every way possible, based on this beliefs we try our very best to let go of certain grudges. but in truth we are just wasting our time and fooling ourselves, because God sees and knows our heart, He knows when we really mean it from the bottom of our hearts and when we just do it for doing sake.
the statement on today's scripture was made to the disciples who where at that time, still under the law. unlike now that we are no longer under the law because Christ has fulfilled the law and has given us grace above all things. you don't have to forgive others that have wronged you before your heavenly father forgives you. rather we should forgive those that has offended you because Christ has already forgiven us even before we come to Him.
our duity as Christians is to forgive, not because we are under and law or condition nor is it because its a necessity to live a holy life, neither is it because we need something from our heavenly father. we need to forgive because Christ has already forgiven us our sins and as His children we need to follow in His footsteps. remember as Christians one of our major goals is to be like Christ, to work and act as He did when He was on earth.
Do not wait untill you need something from God before you forgive those that have offended you.
Do not wait until you have received an apology from them before you forgive them.
Rather forgive them, even as our heavenly father forgave you.
1 John 2:6 KJV
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Very true.. Forgiveness is a very important part of our Christian journey