Forgiveness and Mercy #3

Tim was contacted by the group from Tennessee and it appears that they are raising the money to make the additions to our clinic on the front of the property. This will allow medical teams to come and not only treat our children but folks in the community also. Eventually we will add a feeding center for the poor in our area.

Dottie and I began buying Christmas gifts for 2015. She also went to purchase school shirts for our elementary students.

Matthew 18:34-35 “And his master was very angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due him. So my Heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

This is the master who had forgiven the man who owed him millions but who had refused to forgive his own debtor of hundreds.

Torture means ‘agony of mind’. God allows the demons permission to inflict with pain and agony of body and mind even if we are believers. Medical studies have shown that unforgiveness and bitterness with certain diseases ranging from cancer, arthritis and mental sickness.

The master says the unforgiving man now has to pay the original debt equivalent to 375 tons of gold. That would be impossible just like our own forgiveness of sin was impossible without the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.

The real problem that I have seen (and experienced myself) is that when a person does not forgive he deceives his own heart. When we read this parable there is no doubt what Christ was teaching. He will not forgive us if we no not forgive others.

That means I have to check my heart daily. Folks, I have struggled with this all of my life. Christians love to say murderers, adulterers, thieves, homosexuals, child molesters and others cannot go to heaven. Jesus makes it clear that those who do not forgive others are in trouble themselves. That is a frightening thought.