The Art of Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences.
But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.

Mark 11:26

But if you will not forgive, neither will your father that is in heaven forgive you your sins.

Lord, do I really believe you when you say things like that? Do I really believe that the forgiveness of my own sins is directly proportional to the manner and depth I forgive the sins committed against me?

I don't think I do. I don't think I did, at any rate. I have always known you're a forgiving God--that I can simply confess and you'll forgive. And yet, when I read your words, I see something different. Sure, you will forgive--there's no question of your mercy. It's more a question of my mercy.

Am I in your parable? Am I the man who owed more money than he could ever pay? The one who's debts were washed away? The one who immediately went out and demanded payment from others for much smaller debts?

Yes, as sad as it is to say, that's me. The quality of mercy I've shown others is nothing like the mercy my Father has shown me. In fact, I don't even think it would qualify as mercy. It's a begrudging forgiveness or, worse yet, it's a self-aggrandizing forgiveness: something that makes me feel superior, bigger, a martyr worthy of praise.

Now's the time to throw that all out. It's time to wash the slate clean and start living the commandments of Christ: Lord, let me forgive those who have wronged me. Let me forgive because I've been forgiven. Let me forgive so that I will be forgiven.

Let me hold no one guilty, let me carry no grudges, let me feel no pride. I cannot do it on my own. I can say the words, Lord, but I cannot muster the feelings. I need your grace and your love to flow through me. Let it be, Lord, that you move through my heart and teach me the art of forgiveness.