We Do Not Forgive?

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Matthew 6:15

It might sound a bit tough for a character in a movie to state that he or she does not forgive, but gets even, or some line like that. The character does not have to go through this life bearing such a terrible burden. Jesus treated forgiveness seriously in His great sermon both in the positive and, as we read in the verse above, in the negative as well. Forgiveness is for your benefit and mine, but it works best in the reverse direction. That is to say, that when a person sins against you, your forgiveness may help the repentant one a lot, but letting go of that sin by forgiveness helps you so much more than we can know. Not the least of which is what our verse for today refers to, God's forgiveness of you and me as we forgive those who have trespassed against each of us. 

Not one of us, I think, wants to live without our dear Father's forgiveness! 

Bucky