14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6)
After giving His "How-To-Pray" instructions, Jesus pauses to pull out one point of all those He has made. This is not fine print at the bottom of the page, but obviously of major importance. If we get nothing else out of His example prayer, it is this: Make sure you are forgiving other. Earlier He had talked about making sure we are forgiven by those we have offended; here He reminds us to make sure we are not building up bitterness in our hearts. It hinders our relationship with God and ability to fellowship with Him. We need to allow Him to interrupt us when we pray: "Father, forgive me", to hear Him say: "have you forgiven ________......?" I cringe whenever I hear anyone say "I could never forgive him for what he did?" Never is a long time to not be forgiven. Reread Jesus' words: They are not in fine print; they stand out in BOLD PRINT.
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