Forgiveness"" -by Michelle Peterson

This post comes from a lovely young lady that we got to know in Kentucky. She traveled across the US thousands of miles from home to reach out with the Gospel, and even brought her little sister with her. Thank you, Michelle, for allowing me to post this for others to consider.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” ,” For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt 6:12,14-15

We are called to forgive, lest we ourselves be not forgiven. But I offer you this thought, is there more that we can do than just forgive our debtors? Can we do more than forgive and seek reconciliation?

I recently sat under some teaching on this very passage. And once again a person whom I thought I had forgiven came strait to mind. And I found that once again I was dealing with a situation that was hurtful and difficult and one that I really wanted to put in the past. But here it was again, and though I do not harbor bitterness or resentment towards this person, I was wronged, and it was up to me to forgive. But why couldn't I just forgive and forget. I cried out to the Lord, and in a gentle way, He showed me something more that I could do.

“Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not charge them with this sin.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Stephen not only forgave those who stoned him, but he being the one that was wronged, ask God to forgive.
I remember also our precious Savior who prayed from the cross “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” He who had done no wrong, prayed that God the Father would forgive those who had done all things wrong.

I had forgiven before now, but I realized that I had never asked that God forgive him. It is a powerful thing when the person that was wronged asks God to forgive those who have done the wrong. And for me, it was something that I needed to do. I want God to hold no debt against him on my account. For in Christ there is not debt held against me.

If our Savior, Jesus Christ prayed for our forgiveness, should we not do the same for those who have wronged us?

Just a few thoughts, from the heart.....
Michelle