April 15 - Matthew 6:14-15

April 15 - Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Do we only need to forgive the small sins and trespasses?  Do we only need to forgive those who have sinned directly against us?  What do we do about the biggies, like Saddam Hussein or  Idi Amin, serial killers, bombers, people we believe have done harm to our country or our community?  What about those who hurt children or murder and maim thousands of innocents?

How could God possibly ask us to forgive these people?

You see, what God knows is that unforgiveness acts like a poison in our own hearts and the more cynicism and anger we build up within ourselves, the further from Him we get.  He doesn't just ask us to forgive for the sake of the perpetrator or for society, but for ourselves.  The more time we spend in anger or bitterness whether it is for small or large sins done against us individually or larger communities, the less time we spend caring for others or building a relationship with the Lord.

Today, make the choice for freedom.  Choose love.  Choose forgiveness.