ThankfulnessSample

Thankfulness

by

Rocky Fleming
 

Day Three – Forgiveness

Jesus was clear with our need for forgiveness of someone who has wronged us.  He was not specific, in that He did not mention certain things that could be excluded.  He put it all under one heading called “so that.”  When I read these words, I look immediately at the condition that “so that” is attached to.  See for yourself what Jesus said:

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”  (Mark 11:25 ESV)

Therefore, the “so that” is tied to God’s forgiveness of our sin against Him.  The problem is, we look at this incorrectly as if it is bait for being forgiven rather than an honest to goodness evaluation of our thankful spirit, or its lacking.  You see, as I indicated yesterday, true thankfulness begins with our perspective of why we should be thankful.  When we get in touch with the desperate condition that we are in without God’s grace to us, we begin to see other people differently.  We see them equal in that desperate need within us.  

Many of those people who we are offended by do not have the benefit of knowing Christ as we know Him.  If they did, it might help our relationship with them.  But by your life, and by your forgiveness, they can see Christ in you, and there is nothing more attractive than a gracious, merciful and thankful person.  By the way, it also brings great delight to the Lord as He sees our thankfulness to Him being lived out.

I have found that a fruit of thankfulness is forgiveness.  In fact, it might be the first thing that becomes evident of a truly thankful heart.  Allow this fruit to work its way to the surface of your life today.