So how are you doing in the area of forgiveness of others when someone sins against you? In other words, when someone offends you or wrongs you, even on purpose. Do you hold a grudge or do you forgive them when they ask for forgiveness?

No matter who you are or what culture you’re from, most people will hold a grudge and not forgive even when asked to do so. I can think of case after case of this happening not only among friends but also among family members. In fact, there are two families on my prayer list, with one person being on their deathbed, that are harboring the sin of unforgiveness and disobedience to God right now because they refuse to forgive.

No matter who you are or what culture you’re from, most people will hold a grudge and not forgive even when asked to do so. I can think of case after case of this happening not only among friends but also among family members. In fact, there are two families on my prayer list, with one person being on their deathbed, that are harboring the sin of unforgiveness and disobedience to God right now because they refuse to forgive.

Granted, many times things are hard to move past. But if we are asked by the offending party to forgive them, then we are required to do so according to Jesus. And if we are not willing to forgive, then the penalty for that will require a cost that is far beyond what it’s worth to harbor those feelings of unforgiveness.

Matthew 6:15 ^{(King James Version)}
15 But if you do not forgive men for their sins (wrongdoings against you), neither will your Father forgive your sins.

Sadly, from what I see, even those who claim to be Christian will spout off things like, “I will never forgive them no matter what!!!!” Yet with the same mouth, they claim Jesus as their Lord. So when we do that we are actually sinning against God ourselves. But yet, we expect Him to forgive us when we are not willing to forgive others.

So when we do this are we not effectively saying, “I refuse to obey You, God?” Then like the serpent of old (the devil) when he told Adam and Eve, “God does not mean that. You won’t surely die,” are we not saying to God, “You don’t mean that?”

So if we refuse to obey God and continue to withhold forgiveness from those who ask, are we not harboring sin in our hearts by refusing to obey our Father? Remember He said, “If you do not forgive others I will not forgive you.” So when we stand before God in judgment, I ask you, where does that leave you? For if we are not forgiving then we will NOT inherit eternal salvation but rather eternal damnation. Is that worth harboring a grudge? Because then the offender who sinned against you has won twice.

You know the root sin of satan (uncapitalized on purpose as to NOT give him any honor nor respect) was pride. So God is asking you today to lay down that sin of pride and forgive those who ask. Do what He has told you to do, which is to be an obedient child to Your Father in heaven by forgiving your fellow man/woman.

The Bible also tells us we should be as little children in order to be able to enter the Kingdom of God. Have you ever seen two kids playing and they get into an argument? Within 15 minutes, they are best friends again. This is what God means by that. Let us come to the place where we just let it go.
Again, we offend and sin against God every day but yet He forgives us when we ask Him to do so. So even though we are all sinners, God the Father desires a restored relationship with us. He desired this so much that He was willing to send His only begotten son. Whom I might add was a completely innocent and sinless man. But, He sent Him to be humiliated, tortured, beaten, and killed on a shameful cross for You and I. The reason for this is that only through blood is the forgiveness of sin. This is why pre-Jesus Israel sacrificed animals for the forgiveness of sin. But to eliminate this, Jesus came and submitted Himself as the once and for all blood sacrifice.

Concerning Jesus’ sacrifice, and something most people do not understand is that death on the cross was reserved for the most vile offenders. Not only that but death on the cross was considered the absolute, most humiliating way to die. By the way, this is what makes the rejection of Jesus so bad. Because rejecting God’s Son, Jesus, who gave up everything for you, is like spitting in the face of a King. And in this case, not only a King but God Himself.

Additionally, for those of us who are born again, we need to remember that we were not only forgiven of all of our sins but given new life and made a new creation through the Trinity. We are created to be in His likeness and image, and with that, to take upon us His attributes. We are told in

Matthew 5:48 ^{(Modern English Version)}
48 Therefore be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Therefore, we must take upon ourselves as His children His attributes to be pleasing unto Him. After all, we were created for His pleasure.

Revelation 4:11 ^{(King James Version)}
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

So to please our Heavenly Father, or for that matter even our earthly parents, we must be obedient to them.