Jesus says just as God has been forgiving to you with mercy undeserved so you need to be forgiving to others who ask for your mercy. And as my Seminary professor says, "But this does not apply to the person who has been sexually abused because God will choose the time of forgiveness within God's own judgement upon the abuser."
Look at the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant and find there that our Lord is pointing out a human trait which some of us may find to be faith's stumbling block-- we have been forgiven yet we do not extend that same forgiveness to others. Why? Self-sufficiency, which shrivels faith.
The Holy Spirit has victory over the shriveling activity of self-sufficiency yet only when you allow Spirit to direct you. Spirit speaks to you quietly and believers who know Spirit's Voice, who have found Spirit in practices of quiet surroundings in order to know Spirit's Voice, can listen to the Holy Spirit's guidance when the inward noise of self-centered sufficiency hinders faith.
Christ, by the Holy Spirit, allows us to see, understand, and act on our oneness with the Heavenly Father. The holy practices of merciful forgiveness in our lives help to expand the Kingdom of Heaven in which God enters hearts to grip us with Christ's power. To give mercy is like jumping over a high bar.. Make the jump, extend mercy, with the Holy Spirit's power within you.
The forgiving love of God humbles us, it does not harden us. The servant of God humbly asks God's forgiveness with a sorry heart and he/she receives forgiveness. The servant is not solitary but is member of the whole Kingdom of Heaven where faith in God's love rules righteously. Holiness of God is therefore found in believers around the world. Ask and you shall receive. So if anyone asks for mercy from you then go to Jesus, Matthew 18:23-35.
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents[i] was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart. Matthew 18:23-35
留言