Step 1: I Admit That I Am Powerless To Forgive On My Own

Who Is God: Jehovah Jireh

 

STEP 1

I Admit That I Am Powerless To Forgive On My Own

 Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (NIV)

 

               Jesus told the story of a man who was a servant to a king. He owed the king a large sum of money. In order to receive the payment for what was due, the king decided that he would sell the servant’s wife, children, and all of his belongings in order to pay off the debt. Upon hearing the king’s decision, the servant fell down to his knees and begged for king for mercy and promised to pay the debt. The king had pity on the servant and instead of postponing the debt, he cancelled it altogether and let him go free.

               After he was free to go, the man ran into a servant of his own and angrily required that the servant pay him the debt that he owed him. The servant begged for mercy and asked for more time. However, the servant did not grant him mercy, but hauled him off to jail instead. The other servants saw what the man had done and told the king what had taken place.

               The king called the man, whom was his servant, in to talk to him. The angered king called the man wicked and had him placed in jail until his original debt was paid. Because the man did not show the same mercy that the king had shown him, he placed judgment upon the man. This is the same way that Jehovah El Nose will be with those who are unwilling to forgive others. If we do not forgive those who have wronged us, then God will not forgive us. Matthew 18:35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (NIV)

               This story shows us that we are not able to forgive on our own. Just as the man in the parable did not forgive even after forgiveness was shown to him, without the help of the Holy Spirit, we too would be just as merciless as he was. We must live by the Spirit and in doing so, we can forgive those whom have wronged us because to know Jehovah El Nose is to know of His forgiving power. Galatians 5:16-18 ⁽¹⁶⁾So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ⁽¹⁷⁾For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. ⁽¹⁸⁾But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (NIV)

               Our sinful nature does not want us to forgive. As a matter of fact, it desires for us to stay angry and will replay the offender’s offense as a movie marathon in our minds over and over again. Nevertheless, Jehovah El Nose forgives our sins on a daily basis. Every time we sin, we must be reminded that without Jesus dying for our sins, we too would not be eligible for forgiveness. It is only because of His sacrifice that we were not given the punishment that was due, but have the chance to enter into God’s kingdom. Therefore, Jehovah El Nose does not give us the “option” to forgive, but it is a command. Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV)

Join us for Tomorrow where we will continue the 12 Steps of Forgiveness.