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Our journey of life at times is very difficult, there are many obstacles that block our development of the seed from God. One of the most evil obstacles that we are all familiar with is "unforgiveness". Let me go further to say the lack of unconditional forgiveness.
How often do we allow our inability to forgive keep us from becoming the symbol of love that God expects from each of us? This is the basis on which we will be judged. How can we rid ourselves of this terrible obstacle that prevents us from becoming the beautiful "Rose of Christ"?
First, we must listen to the word of God, we must believe the word of God and we must live the word of God. Jesus tells us in Mark 12:30-31: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your hear, with all your soul, with all your mind and all your strength. The second greatest commandment is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these". How can we live these commandments if we refuse to forgive our neighbor? Are we sincere when we pray to God as he taught us how: "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"? Matt: 18:21-22 tells us when Jesus was asked, "Lord, if you my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? Jesus answered: I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times". Luke 7:37 tells us "Forgive and you will be forgiven"
Ephesians 4:32 tells us "to be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ". These are a few of the many passages in scripture that tells us that in order to grow in Christ, we must be able to forgive.
May of us are willing to forgive, but not on God's terms. We want to forgive on our terms: I am willing to forgive if…., I will forgive you, if you…., I will forgive, but I will always hold it against you…, I will forgive, but I will always remember what you did to me…, I will only forgive under these terms…. Etc.
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