too. When we hold onto ….

too. When we hold onto resentments and bitterness, nursing our anger, we can become as hard as a rock, and God’s grace for us will be like water running over a rock. It does not soak in.

But when we are open to forgiving others, we become soft like a moistened sponge. The Lord’s deep grace soaks in and saturates our hearts, and we become available to share his grace. Just as a wet sponge moistens other things when it touches them, we can share grace, helping to wipe others’ dirt away as we forgive others.

Jesus emphasizes that Christians must be ready and willing to forgive the offenses of others. If they do not forgive repeating offenders, God will not forgive them, and their prayers will be to no avail. This is an important principle by which God forgives.

Colossians 3:13 puts it, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Dying to our accumulated resentment, anger, and bitterness softens our hearts to receive God’s amazing grace and to share it freely with others. Grace is an unconditional gift motivated by nothing within us. There is nothing within us that can motivate God to save us. The motivation comes from God alone. If it were the other way around, it would not be grace. God gives us grace because God is love, God is merciful, God is compassionate, and because God is God.

Grace is free to us but let us never forget it cost our Lord everything.

Prayer: Soak my heart, Lord, in the depths of your abundant grace and mercy, that I may overflow with grace and mercy for others. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

( Editor’s Note: Pastor Tony Sifuentes is the pastor of the Assembly of God Church. He and his wife, Martha, have been ministering in Wolf Point for 11 years, 10 years as lead pastors. Martha is a Spanish teacher at Wolf Point Jr/Sr. High School. They are former residents of Sidney.)