“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Mark 11:25 NIV
Forgiving to be Forgiven
Student loan debt was the biggest contributor to the debt loads millennials carried. The average student loan debt among millennials was $16,725. Statistics also showed that around 330,000 students entered the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) because they couldn’t afford their loan payments. In general, the government of Canada doesn’t offer any student loan forgiveness programs, except for bankruptcy. However, you can’t have your government student loans absolved through bankruptcy unless you’ve been out of school for at least 7 years.
***
Some people hold grudges. It seems they just can’t let go of bitterness and anger. Doing so does nothing but eat away at their soul like spiritual cancer. How much wiser would it be to let go of that, to experience the joy of forgiveness. Each of us has been wronged, in word or deed, by others throughout our lives. Those who forgive live a much spiritually richer life. This is certainly true for those who are followers of Christ. We have experienced God’s forgiveness, and we sure needed it. It’s the very reason Jesus came. When, in turn, we refuse to forgive someone else, offering them grace, after we have experienced the richness of God’s grace, we are in danger. Listen to what Mark 11:25 says, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Your Creator and Saviour wants you to experience the freedom that comes in forgiving others. When you don’t, you miss out on the freedom of forgiveness, and despise Jesus’ death for you. Forgive others, so you can experience the fullness of God’s life changing forgiveness.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley