As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

Matthew 6:9-13-"Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. And let us not yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."

Matthew 18:21-35-"Then Peter came to him and asked, 'Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?' 'No, not seven times,' Jesus replied, 'but seventy times seven! Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, on of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn't pay, so his master ordered that he be sold--along with with wife, his children, and everything he owned--to pay the debt. But the man fell down before his master and begged him, 'Please be patient with me, and I will pay it all.' Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his dept. But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. 'Be patient with me, and I will pay it,' he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn't wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king call in the man he had forgiven and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire dept. That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.'"

Forgive, and you will be forgiven! This is God's way. Even though it's sometimes hard to forgive others, just think about all the times you have wronged God. He has forgiven you of so much through Christ, and he wants you to forgive others to show His love. Forgiveness is freedom!

Please pray for me. I have been having a really rough time lately and could use some prayer. Thank you. Keep Measuring Up and pressing on toward the goal of Christ for your life! You are dearly loved.

-Jenna Hampton
with many warm thoughts :)