Message #9 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series "Confession"

by Kaye Johns

All unconfessed sin separates us from God, but one sin is especially significant, for God’s forgiveness of all our other sins hinges on it: the sin of unforgiveness.

When Jesus is teaching His disciples to pray in Matthew 6, He says, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." [Matt. 6:14-15]

Mark repeats it: "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." [Mark 11:25]

Forgiveness is not an emotion. We don’t have to feel like forgiving; we have to decide to do it. Forgiveness is an act of the will. Just speaking the words isn’t enough, because God reads what is in our hearts. Whether we feel like it or not, if we say we forgive someone, we must truly forgive them with our heart and show it with our actions.

When Peter asked Jesus, "Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?" Jesus answered "seventy times seven." [Matt. 18:21-22, NASB] He didn’t say, "depending on the nature of the sin," or, "if your brother apologizes." He said we must endlessly forgive, no matter what. He cuts us no slack.

If we don’t forgive, God doesn’t forgive us. Even if we confess every other sin in our lives, our fellowship with Him is still broken. The penalty for an unforgiving heart is separation from Him. It’s too big a price to pay.

Pray with me now -- Lord, with Your dying breath You forgave those who nailed You to the cross. Help us to forgive in Your strength, with Your heart. Amen.

ã 1999 PrayerPower Ministries, P.O. Box 1368, Dallas, TX 75380-1368, 1-800-949-PRAY.
May be copied for personal or church use; please include PrayerPower name, address and phone on copies.