Overlooking Faults

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew_6:14

Literally, “falling to the side,” men have lapses or slips and with these times come offenses to others. They trespass other’s dignity, honor, or personal respect. These trespasses we must forgive, (send away), and dismiss when they come to us. In other words, we relinquish our rights and thus maintain the flow of unity with others.

Matthew 5:39 teaches us “That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

It all relates to the cry of Jesus, while on the cross dying:

“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

“I am acquainted with a family which came to America from Germany. The English language was difficult for them. They had but little by way of means, but each was blessed with the will to work and with a love of God. Their third child was born, lived but two months, and then died. Father was a cabinetmaker and fashioned a beautiful casket for the body of his precious child. The day of the funeral was gloomy, thus reflecting the sadness they felt in their loss. As the family walked to the chapel, with Father carrying the tiny casket, a small number of friends had gathered. However, the chapel door was locked.

The busy bishop had forgotten the funeral.

Attempts to reach him were futile. Not knowing what to do, the father placed the casket under his arm and, with his family beside him, carried it home, walking in a drenching rain. If the family were of a lesser character, they could have blamed the bishop and harbored ill feelings. When the bishop discovered the tragedy, he visited the family and apologized. With the hurt still evident in his expression, but with tears in his eyes, the father accepted the apology, and the two embraced in a spirit of understanding. No hidden wedge was left to cause further feelings of anger. Love and acceptance prevailed.” churchofjesuschrist.org

“When you forgive, you in no way change the past – but you sure do change the future.” Bernard Meltzer  brainyquote.com

” … at the core of the Christian faith is the grace of God. If there’s one word I would grab from all of that, it’s forgiveness – that you can be forgiven. I can be forgiven, and it is of the grace of God. But once you understand that, I think the ramifications are worldwide.” Ravi Zacharias   brainyquote.com

In a recent workshop on grieving, I likened The “mercy seat” with a person’s unconscious mind.

Indeed, In our unconscious there must be a correct picture. That picture can only be the blood covering demonstrated by the Old Testament Mercy seat, The innermost place, the Holy of holies, this Seat represents the place of judgment.

Yes, judgment proceeds naturally from the depths of our being. However, the Blood of our righteous Savior, sprinkled on that seat of judgment, signifies that the penalty has been paid in full, already. When my unconscious mind bears this image, there comes a purging, a vital cleansing, a forgiven self at the core of being.

Then we can forgive others.

More than mustering forgiveness, I die to my right to judge.

In closing, two thieves sided Jesus cross, mounted individually on their own crosses. One mocked, the other begged Jesus’ remembrance after their dyings. Without hesitation Jesus answered the penitent thief, “today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Jesus lived in the effect of His own dying, which happened “before the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:9

We can too. love ya