February 22, 2019

 ²⁵ "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”  Mark 11:25 (ESV)

Anything against anyone.  Anyone.  When asked to make a list of "anyones" most people would include coworker, family member, neighbor, friend.  I wonder how many people would include "self" in that list?  With work most of us can forgive those who we have something against.  Forgiveness of others can be difficult, but scripture is replete with verses that emphasize the importance of forgiving those people in our lives who have caused us inconvenience or pain.  But do we extend that same forgiveness to oneself?

God tells us that unforgiveness is not just a hinderance to our prayer life, but it is also a sin and separator from God.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Matthew 6:14,15 (ESV)

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  Colossians 3:13 (ESV)

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;"  Luke 6:37 (ESV)