The Importance of Forgiveness

In the Bible, priests would stand and pray the blessing that God gave Aaron for the people: 

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26CloseNumbers 6:24-26 `May the LORD bless you  and protect you. May the LORD smile on you  and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor  and give you his peace.' OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) NKJV)

 For God promised, 

"So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them” (v. 27)

This is a relationship blessing. It is being in God’s presence, where His face shines upon us and we find shalom—the peace of God. Without His presence, there is no peace. 

Jesus refers to this imagery, saying, 

“Whenever you stand praying”—then He continues, “if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26CloseMark 11:25-26 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.*" Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

If we hold onto unforgiveness, our prayers go nowhere. 

Jesus was beaten, spit upon, rejected, crowned with thorns, and nailed to a cross—yet He said, “Father, forgive them.” He would rather have a relationship with the Father than hold onto offenses. He knows the Aaronic blessing is the key. If we have His presence, we have everything. 

Another image of the priestly blessing is in1 Timothy 2:8Close1 Timothy 2:8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , when Paul says, 

"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

Where there is anger and disputing, there is no anointing. Paul also says inEphesians 4:26CloseEphesians 4:26 And "don't sin by letting anger control you."* Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , 

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.

This is why we should pray, “Lord, am I holding anything against anyone? I don’t want to keep a grudge, because it takes away from my relationship with You. I want Your face to shine upon me. I want Your presence all through me. And I want my heart transparent before You.”

He will forgive anything if we ask—and when we have a clear conscience, we can pray with power. As1 John 3:21-22Close1 John 3:21-22 Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) promises: 

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him.

God bless you.

© Copyright Gordon Robertson