Today’s Reading: Matthew 18:15-20
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” – Mark 11:22-25
There are so many powerful statements packed in these four verses. If we want our prayers to be answered, we must have faith in God. We must REALLY believe, choosing not to entertain doubt but cling to faith. Then, if you believe it, you will receive it. But there is one more crucial step — we must forgive.
At times we lack the faith for our prayers to be answered, and at times unforgiveness blocks the path between our requests and God’s answer. We are to let go of the grudges and stop clinging to our right to be wounded. If our prayers are not being answered, we should consider whether or not we need to forgive someone who has hurt us. Perhaps we have forgiven them before but we find ourselves in the habit of picking up the pain instead of fully releasing it to God.
As we start a new day, let us consider the relationship between forgiveness, freedom and mercy. What freedom do we experience when we choose forgiveness and mercy over bitterness and pride? What would life look like if we consistently LET FORGIVENESS FLOW and mercy show? What would it sound like to truly let freedom ring?
FORGIVENESS. FREEDOM. MERCY.
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two or three witnesses. If the person refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
“I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” – Matthew 18:15-20
Again Jesus coupled the issue of forgiveness and restoration with the idea of our prayers being answered. UNFORGIVENESS BLOCKS OUR PRAYER LIFE. God’s plan is for us to actively forgive others, bringing restoration into relationships that are strained or in need of resolution. We are to walk into these situations in strong faith that God will be in the middle of it all, that He will be with us through our attempts at restoration. Our own forgiveness depends on our commitment to forgive others, not just in our hearts but through necessary conversations.
If our attempts at restoration with another believer are unsuccessful, Jesus instructs us to treat that person as a pagan or corrupt tax collector. And how did Jesus model our treatment of sinners? He ate with them in their homes and even called Matthew to be one of his disciples. Jesus said he didn’t come to call those who think they are righteous, but he came for those who know they are sinners (Luke 5:32). When we recognize that we are sinners who have been saved by grace, we are postured to forgive those who have sinned against us.
FORGIVENESS. FREEDOM. MERCY.
When we forgive those who have sinned against us, we experience freedom. When we humbly recognize our own capacity to sin, we can then have mercy on those who have sinned against us. We give the situation to the Lord and pray for Him to extend mercy both to us and to those who have hurt us.
“Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
“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 6:9-15
Lord, forgive us our sins. Forgive us for lacking the humility and mercy you have called us to display to those who have sinned against us. Thank you for the Matthew 18 principle of forgiveness that models how restoration can take place. Help us to release the pain inflicted by others in order to experience healing from the trauma of yesterday and hope for the reconciliation of today. May there be nothing left behind that blocks our ability to lay our requests before you, believing you can answer our prayers. And help us to genuinely pray for your will to be done, resting in your perfect wisdom and in your eternal plan. Amen.