Forgiveness
From Elder Mike
Forgiveness is at the very heart of our Christian walk. Often our hearing has become dull and our hearts hardened. We love the idea of forgiveness for our own sins but we harbor "JUSTIFIED" unforgiveness in our hearts believing that the person that hurt us doesn't "DESERVE" forgiveness because their sin was so egregious.
Jesus purchased forgiveness for us, and God freely grants us pardon. The full price for pardon has been paid, and we are not to extract payment from others before we can forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 in the Amplified version reads something like the following, "For if you forgive people their trespasses - that is, their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go and giving up resentment - your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses - their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go and giving up resentment - neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses."
You know the story in Matthew 18:23-35 about the unmerciful servant that was forgiven a large debt but was unwilling to forgive his fellow servant a much smaller debt. The unmerciful servant was given over to the tormentors until he could pay his debt. That is why we are so miserable when we don't forgive. It is the one who doesn't forgive that is tormented. Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the one you won't forgive to be hurt.
