Rousey's Reflections

In John 20:22-23, the NLT (New Living Translation) says:

Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

I had never looked at this passage of scripture this way before. We always focus on the part that indicates that Jesus breathed on them, and they received the Holy Spirit indwelling (infilling would come later at Pentecost in Acts 2), but what struck me is the part about forgiveness. If I forgive my brother/sister, then they are forgiven in heaven. But what power our words and will have in heaven if we say that we don’t forgive our brother and they are not forgiven in heaven??!! Jesus makes it very clear that not only are we supposed to forgive our brother, but we are to do it 70×7 = 490 times!! I would say that is even a low number, the obvious point is that we are to forgive our brother/sister without conditions.

Lord help me forgive all those who have done wrong against me and my family! You know what I need Jesus!!!

Michael