"Matthew 18:35"

It amazes me how unforgiving some people are while proclaiming they are children of God. A child of God is forgiven but that forgiveness sometimes never translates into their lives to be forgiving. The ability to forgive or the lack thereof will determine the eternal destiny of many a child of God. We've seen where someone in the church is offended and their unwillingness to forgive pushes them out the door and off to somewhere else. In their mind set, it never occurred to them that just because one leaves and goes somewhere else, they are still unacceptable to the Lord. We have also seen where someone doesn't leave because they were hurt or offended but held to such a grudge they refuse to speak or be in the presence of the offender. They too are unacceptable to the Lord.

Forgiveness is the very heart and nature of God. We seem to draw lines between the "ability" to forgive and the "willingness" to forgive. People make statements like, "I will forgive but I don't forget!" The bluntness of Jesus in Matt. 18:35 should send chills up and down those with the attitude of unwilling to forgive another. Jesus said there is no pretence. One MUST forgive another from the heart or there is no forgiveness from the Lord! You can't say you forgive while within your being you hold to some icy, hostile feelings toward another. Do we not realize the Lord knows our hearts?

The death of Jesus and His forgiveness toward you is revealed in your willingness to forgive others. Matt. 18:35 is there for our hearts to accept and we seem to to be very good at finding a reason to hold on to really bad things!