Whose Sin, Whose Forgiveness?

Theirs... or mine?

All people believe in sin, they just don't always call thoughts, words and actions sin or sinful, or use the root terms/meanings.

Scripture tells us in a load of ways "ALL have sinned and fallen short (of the glory of God"). So does human history aside from the Bible or any sort of spiritual framework.

A few mornings ago one of my several daily devos quoted "“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” -Matthew 6.14

I have quoted and taken this to heart many times but never did I have the following thought about it: could it be we ourselves are in need of God's forgiveness for holding a grudge and unforgiveness against those who truly -or in our own judgement, have sinned against us? Might this be what Jesus is saying here? I shudder to think I reap what I sow if I sin on such a point!

ALL of us want forgiveness and if not extended from people we've wronged or believe we've hurt and sinned against (true or false in God's Own judgment). But the bigger picture is we want Him to forgive us of all our sins, not only those we specifically committed against this or that person or group. Note that Jesus says the stain, the onus, responsibility is on OUR sin against them and not theirs against us.

Getting "even", grasping for revenge, even in heart deep desire for -them to hurt- has nothing to do with God's love in Christ -so for we who claim to follow Jesus how does all this affect the fabric of our thoughts, prayers and intent toward those who have offended us?

We want God's forgiveness and mercy, it's core to why Jesus was sent, came, suffered, died in agony on the cross: forgiveness.

Repentance always starts with me, my relationship with God -and not the other even if they have indeed sinned against me.

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn