Christian Writers Circle

Forgiveness
by Judy Hitson

Matthew 18:23 NKJV Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts  with his servants.

“Kingdom of God Principles, starting with forgiveness.” These words came to mind as I prayed for inspiration to write and believe this is the word of the Lord to share. May your heart be impacted as much as mine. Through a Google search, I found the following definitions for the word principle significant for us to consider:

principle – 1. a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning. “the basic principles of Christianity”

Merriam-Webster on principle – a moral rule or belief that helps you know what is right and wrong and that influences your actions………..

In relation to forgiveness, the parable of the unforgiving servant deeply affects me by the Holy Spirit, Matthew 18:21-35. Through this passage of Scripture, there was a time the Spirit of God convicted me of being like the unforgiving servant.  It brought me to my knees to repent of this sin. He taught me how vital forgiveness is as a principle of God’s Kingdom and set me free from the bondage of unforgiveness and bitterness.

Matthew 6:9-13, the Lord’s Prayer, is a beautiful prayer I was required to memorize as a child. It was a religious ritual without a personal communication with God. Though I prayed, Our Father who art in heaven, there was no sense of relationship with Him at that time. Yet I struggled when I prayed, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” To ask God to forgive me as I forgive was scary. The conviction of sin was like a flashing red light but I was not able to contend with it on my own.

After receiving the life of the Holy Spirit, I remember going to a church in desperation for help, tormented in my mind. That is when the Lord revealed the reality of my experience as an unforgiving servant, Matthew 18:34-35 NKJV 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

It wasn’t until forgiveness flowed from my heart that I fully understood the parable of the unforgiving servant. It is essential to forgive from the heart.

Prayer: God I lift praise and thanksgiving to You for grace and mercy, for Your salvation through Jesus Christ and life by Your Spirit to learn to forgive as You forgive. Amen.