#4 Forgiveness Essential
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Please consider
In the process of forgiveness, it is not as though we set others free. However, we do set ourselves free. We disentangle ourselves from the mental and emotional turmoil. It has been my experience that it is not essential to forgive others face to face. It is merely essential to forgive others within the quiet of our own prayer closet. It is not only essential to forgive individuals, but also to forgive groups and classes of individuals. This may include family members, political groups, athletic opponents and teams and any other combination of groupings of individuals who have offended, even to include our enemies.
If we do not take time to prayerfully ponder who it is that we should forgive, we're probably overlooking a great many opportunities. In the process of overlooking those great opportunities we are merely condemning ourselves.
It has been my experience that forgiveness is most profoundly effective in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names. Consequently, I recommend "In the name of Jesus Christ I forgive. Amen."
Blessings,
Robert Benedict
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Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
The intent of CRA is:
>NOT to demean other religious perspectives but to share the rationale for a better way;
>NOT to insist but to proclaim what is perceived to be a more excellent way;
>NOT to convince but to reveal the perceived Truth and allow the Spirit of God to convict the hearts and >minds of those who are receptive;
>NOT to force feed but to share
>NOT to intimidate but to encourage;
>NOT to coerce but to invite;
>NOT to argue but to dialogue;
>NOT to divide but to unite.