“If you won’t forgive men of their sins, the Father won’t forgive you…” Matt. 6:15
January 17, 2022 - Most of us would like to have a better memory. The art of remembering (called “mnemonics”) is taught in the Bible and was once taught in public schools. My Pastor often told me, “When someone introduces himself to you, don’t you dare walk off and forget his name!”
But there’s another art taught in God’s Word. It should be taught in our churches, schools, and homes. It’s the art of forgetting. Many church members become unfit for kingdom work because of an unforgiving spirit. I once knew a deacon who stayed out of church 27 years because of an argument over a bird dog.
God has forgotten our past sins and promised to remember them against us no more…forever. (Heb. 8:12) Forgetting hurtful words and deeds against us isn’t easy…but it’s the Christian way. Newspaper editor Webster Hays once told me of a lady who came forward during a revival and expressed a desire to patch things up with a fellow church member. “I’m willing to forgive and forget,” she wept. “But I still think I was right!”
The year of 2022 would be a good year to unclench our fists, bury the hatchets, and by the grace of God forgive and forget. A heavy load is lifted when we bury old grudges. How high we can leap when the burden is gone! And remember: if we don’t forgive those who sin against us…
… God won’t forgive us.
