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A Closer Walk

Attitude of the Righteous

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Our ministry is to reach out to the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ and to help believers be equipped with a solid knowledge of the Word of God, the Bible, and be encouraged to apply it in every aspect of their daily lives. There are simple truths for these complex times to help people live in a way that brings real spiritual victory to them and more importantly, through the Lord Jesus Christ, glory to God our Father.

Mark 11:25
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.
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What an incredibly dangerous truth is revealed in today's Scripture verse: If we fail to forgive others, the Lord will not forgive us! Of course, that fact does not stand alone. We should all know what the apostle Paul had written to the Galatians: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” {Gal.6:7}

But certainly the teaching, the training in righteousness, of Jesus Himself in the Sermon on the Mount should be the clincher: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” {Mat.6:14-15}

It is not in man's fallen human nature to truly forgive others. But of course, we have been lifted out of that fallen state by the grace of the Father and the atoning work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary and the power of the Holy Spirit within us. That cross was the place where He, the only guiltless man, was put on trial, found innocent, and then sentenced to a horrific death. A death at the hands of all mankind: the Romans, the 'world', and by the people of God who were calling out 'crucify Him'. {Matt.27:22}

Which brings us to a place where we must consider the single most important word in the English language—LOVE! The Lord’s love is the foundation of everything that is good in the world, and beyond! It is a word used over and over in song, story, and all the accounts of man's history, and yet without understanding. For that to exist we must know that God is love just as it is written. {1Jn.4:8} And we know love by this, that He laid down His life for us while we were yet sinners. {1Jn.3:16}

A detailed description of the attributes of true love has been provided to us in Paul's first letter to the believers in Corinth {1Cor.13:4-8} (You may want to read it again—and again, and again) One of the most important facets of that love, and most important relating to today's Scripture verse, is the fact that 'love does not take into account a wrong suffered'. {1Cor.13:4-8} And Jesus is the great example, our model, of that fact.

The Lord Jesus responded to that greatest of all injustice by praying while hanging on that cross: "Father, forgive them." {Luke 23:34} And of course we have been told that we are to be imitators of Him, {Eph.5:1-2} To facilitate that dictate we have been given the mind of Christ {1Cor.2:16} and entrusted with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore be on guard and remember:

"Beloved, never take your own revenge, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19-21)

LOVE CONQUERS ALL