To remain in unforgiveness stirs up doubt about God's forgiveness of our own sins. Is forgiveness hard to do? Yes, but not impossible. By refusing to forgive others their sins against us, we begin to question God's ability and/or commitment to forgive us. We may even go so far as to think that there must be a "limit" to His forgiveness of our sin, and, consequently,to His love for us and His grace. Once we begin to consider God in the context of our own sinful natures, rather than His sinless almightiness, we create a "god" of our vain imagination and delusion. We cower before this oppressive god and begin to hate it even as we continue to fear it. We find ways (excuses, justifications and lies) to circumvent repentance because we have now embraced the deception that God does not love us and will not forgive us. How is this false idea about God corrected? Through the correct interpretation of the Scriptural revelation of God's character and the correct application of His precepts to our lives.

It is not enough just to experience a "momentary" peace as we unload our sins on Christ through a prayer for salvation. [Jesus joyfully endured the penalty for taking our sins upon Himself (see Hebrews 12:2)]. He also wants us to enjoy the freedom of His Lordship which includes His command to forgive others of their sins against us. Unforgiveness denies the Lordship of Christ and refuses His gracious gift of loving justice and mercy. In this, we will find ourselves both judge and accused, jailer and prisoner, without hope of peace or rest. How much better, then, to accept God's loving provision of forgiveness of our sins and, empowered by His grace, to forgive those around us, both friend and enemy. Think about it.