Unforgiveness: Faith

Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.'

Matthew 9:2 (NKJV)

I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness... to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

Acts 26:16-18 (NKJV)

For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In My faithfulness I will reward My people and make an everlasting covenant with them.

Isaiah 61:8 (NKJV)

The Lord reveals a supernatural connection between faith and forgiveness. If we believe in Him, He forgives us, embraces us, heals us, and rewards us.

Our faith is the key to His forgiveness, and our Father’s forgiveness is the key to our salvation and restoration. Consider this heavenly progression:

  1. A faith walk comes first. Because 'Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him' (Hebrews 11:6).
    Note: DILIGENTLY as in CONTINUING. Your rewards may come quickly or slowly, but they WILL come--if you are diligent.

  2. Forgiveness comes next. Because Jesus forgives all of our sins, then we must forgive the sins of others--even for the most serious of crimes, like theft, neglect, abuse, abandonment, abuse, infidelity, or even murder. With our limited minds, it isn’t right. But with God's limitless Mind, it IS right.
    He knows unforgiveness will harm us more than any crime committed against us.
    Add one more clear point:     'All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags' (Isaiah 64:6). 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23). Who are we to judge?
    'If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses' (Matthew 6:12).

  3. After completing tough steps one and two, rewards will follow!
    Consider Job: He lost his children, fortune, friends, and health. He committed no crimes to deserve it. His ordeal became a test of faith.

Because in my reading of the Bible, stars passed great tests to receive great rewards. As for Job? 'The Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before' (Job 42:10).*

Surely, forgiveness is the PROOF of faith!

Unforgiveness: Faith (Part 4)

* Note that Job was restored 'When he prayed for his friends.' In other words, Job forgave the same friends who accused him of bringing his torment upon himself, the same friends who neither comforted nor encouraged Job in his time of greatest need.

Years later, Jesus demonstrated again and again that restoration and rewards follow faith and forgiveness.'In all this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold... may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed' (1 Peter 1:6-8).

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban