Together in Christ: 'A Hard but Liberating Truth' — Matthew 6:14-15

Based on email feedback from decades of online ministry and daily devotionals, the most challenging spiritual necessity for most people is to forgive those who have hurt or wounded them or taken advantage of them. Nevertheless, forgiveness is the one focused condition that Jesus tied to His model prayer, the Lord's Prayer. In addition, Jesus came back to a similar teaching, stressing the essentiality of forgiveness, later in His ministry. ^[1] Today's verses are Jesus' follow-up to the portion of the prayer that says:

"…and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. ^[2]

At first glance, Jesus' words seem to make God's forgiveness of our sins conditional on our forgiving those who sin against us. In a sense, this is true because God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing to others. ^[3] A better image, perhaps, is a metaphor used over the centuries, a metaphor that comes from a comparison of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is fed by the blessings of rain that falls on its watershed. Historically, it was rich in abundant life and shared its waters with the downstream section of the Jordan River, which flows out of it and has blessed the whole valley with water and abundant life. Farther downstream, the Dead Sea receives the blessings of the Jordan River, but it is over 1400 feet below sea level and has no rivers flowing out of it, so the water isn't shared. With evaporation, the salt concentration builds up, and the high salt concentration means little or nothing lives in it or close to it.

We are to be like the Sea of Galilee, receiving forgiveness and other blessings and passing them on to others. When we refuse to forgive, we stagnate the forgiveness God longs to give us. Like the salt in the Dead Sea, we hold onto our bitterness and hurt, clogging our hearts so we don't receive the life-giving grace God longs to give us, grace that can refresh our souls as we bless others. As I have heard it expressed, "Forgiveness is releasing the captive bird from its cage, then realizing that we were the captive bird." Until we forgive others, we can't experience God's full, free (for us), loving, and undeserved forgiveness. When we do not forgive, we hold ourselves captive to the past and our bitter resentments.

We are correct when we say, "I can't forgive and forget!" But God doesn't command us to forget. Only the Holy Spirit, over time and based on our commitment to and actions of forgiveness, can erase the pain of past offenses. So, let's take the first steps toward our souls' freedom. Let's forgive others while we ask for the Holy Spirit to empower God's love ^[4] to help us forgive. Let's ask the Spirit to help us release our captive souls from the cages of our bitterness, hatred, and resentment. As Paul, the apostle, said:

And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. ^[5]