Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18
From Forgiveness To Liberty
To forgive means to "release unto liberty."
We talk a lot about freedom and liberty in the USA.
The words have degenerated into "The freedom to do whatever I want."
Yet, in the kingdom of God, it is better defined as "The freedom to pursue what God created me to be."
He created us to be fully alive and growing in love with Him, as expressed by loving others.
Any soul illness will limit how we live. Healing is needed for us to live abundant lives.
Emotional, spiritual, and relational illness is often tied to unforgiveness.
Either not accepting or not giving forgiveness.
Tragically, we often stay in bondage and keep others there through unforgiveness.
Yet before healing, the knife of forgiveness opens the patient's wounds, allowing medicine and surgery to be applied.
Forgiveness is the vehicle that allows healing to follow.
The first step to healing is accepting the forgiveness of God the Father through Jesus, then releasing others through forgiveness to live in the liberty God has designed and desired for us all to live.
Have you received the forgiveness of God the Father through His Son, Jesus?
In what ways are you allowing what someone has done to you to be greater than what Jesus has done for you?
Take time today to ask God to make you willing to accept His forgiveness and give it to others.
Lord Jesus, You said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." May we do the same as You did and do. You have empowered us by Holy Spirit to forgive and love others as You do. Nothing is impossible with You, including forgiving those who do not deserve it. People like us. Amen