THE "F" WORD

I know so many people use the 'F' word all the time. But how many people think of this "F" word? Not many I am sure. Are you wondering what in the world am I talking about? Ok then, let me share with you right now. The "F" word I am talking about is FORGIVENESS. To forgive and not to take unforgiveness for others to their graves, as so many people do.

The King James Bible says forgiveness is an act of pardon. The dictionary says the act of forgiving. Now we will see what the Bible has to say on the "F" word.

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Repentance must be joined with faith, and we cannot call on God correctly, unless the fruits of our faith appear. God's graciousness is felt more and more the longer one knows Him (Ps 130:7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.). Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now His word is calling to us, and His Spirit is striving with us. There must be not only a change of the way, but a change of the mind. We must alter our judgments about persons and things. It is not enough to break off from evil practices, we must strive against evil thoughts. To repent is to return to our Lord, against whom we have rebelled. If we do so, God will multiply to pardon, as we have multiplied to offend. But let none trifle with this plenteous mercy, or use it as an occasion to sin. Men's thoughts concerning sin, Christ, and holiness, concerning this world and the other, vastly differ from God's; but in nothing more than in the matter of pardon. We forgive, and cannot forget; but when God forgives sin, He remembers it no more.

Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

He is confessing that God is good to all but only merciful to poor sinner, however undeserving. God's goodness appears in two things, in giving and forgiving. The point upon which David now insists is, that God is bountiful and inclined to compassion, and that His mercy is so great, as to render it impossible for Him to reject any who implore His aid. It was not enough for God to be good in general, did He not also extend to sinners His forgiving mercy. He uses the term all, that every man, without exception, from the greatest to the least, may be encouraged confidently to betake himself to the goodness and mercy of God.

Psalm 130:4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Because by nature You are merciful therefore the faithful revere You. Thou art able and ready to forgive repenting sinners. He is to be feared - not with a slavish, but with a childlike fear. Pardon produces obedience fear and love. Judgment without the hope of pardon creates fear and dislike. The sense of forgiveness, so far from producing licentiousness, produces holiness. The only motive and encouragement for sinners is this, that there is forgiveness with the Lord.

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Our censures must be just and proceed from love and charity. We must observe that kind rebuke, as well as forgiveness, is a duty. Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren. The gentle rebuke, if taken and repented of, gains you a brother.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

An argument taken from the example of Christ, most grave and strong, both for the pardoning of those injuries which have been done to us by our greatest enemies, and much more for having consideration of the miserable, and using moderation and gentle behaviour towards all men. These verses enforce various duties essential to keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace plain, everyday duties of life. God hath shown Himself "kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to you;" it is but just that you in turn shall be so to your fellow men, who have not erred against you in the degree that you have erred against God. It cost God the death of His Son, as man, to forgive us. It costs us nothing to forgive our fellow man.

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

He has reason in making mention of sins, for diseases are often sent because of sins. Not all who are sick are so because of some special sins. The prophets are full of this doctrine, that men are relieved from their evils when they are loosed from the guilt of their iniquities. Let us then know that it is the only fit remedy for our diseases and other calamities, when we carefully examine ourselves, being solicitous to be reconciled to God, and to obtain the pardon of our sins.

Let us all remember that in order to be blessed, prosper and to be healed, we must be in a continual humble mind and always be the first to forgive and to forget. We should be so thankful to our Lord that He doesn't hold our past against us. He is so willing to forget all those horrible deeds that we had done. Therefore, we as His children should do the same always and also.

Satan, that hateful, unloving, uncaring, deceiving being, is the one who always remembers and is always so eager to keep us remembering them. Thereby keeping us from following the example set before us by Christ. God is faithful and just. He has forgiven us of all past crimes, so then are we to do unto others. Forgive and forget.

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: