“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15 NLT)

People often do not show us a great deal of mercy. If we are sincere, we must admit that we do not deserve forgiveness. Feeling that we merit compassion is a contradiction in terms because mercy is not getting what we deserve. Our quest to receive the right treatment from man is futile; it only comes from God.

Some of us are on a life-long journey to receive mercy from people. The problem with this is that most people are more equipped to give us justice rather than kindness. Trying to force someone to forgive you is an exercise in futility. It hinders you from receiving it from God. Extending mercy does not necessarily mean people will reciprocate, but it does mean that God will. Un-forgiveness is human, overlooking an offense is divine.  The latter sets people free along with yourself.

What does this require of us? We must return good for evil.  Isn’t that what Jesus did for us on the Cross? While we were yet in our sins, Jesus died for us. He showed us mercy and grace without us ever deserving it. Should not those of us who proclaim to follow Christ respond similarly? Someone once said you should never expect too little from man nor too much from God. We often expect too much from man and too little from God.

God desires to give us what we do not deserve. Forgiveness is the doorway to God”s abundant mercy and grace. Give, and it shall be given to you.

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission.  My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine.  I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University.  [email protected]