Get Over It....Whatever It Is! 
by PJ



Prior to Yom Kippur, Jews reconcile with family members, colleagues, friends, and even their enemies. It's the time to forgive! In fact, the Chassidic Master, Israel Ba'al Shem Tov asked the question, "If we cannot forgive others, how can we expect G-d to forgive us?" Messiah Yeshua answered this question as recorded in Yochanan-Makabi / Mark 11:25-26, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings."

To forgive another is to grant that person the freedom to be. It's an acknowledgement that each individual has the freedom to do both right and wrong. It's a choice we make to allow another their freedom from our rule. Forgiveness allows G-d to rule in our lives and in that rule we receive the reward of our forgiveness, which is, FREEDOM.

The Word of G-d declares in Colossians 3:13, "Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so you must also [forgive]." We are instructed to forgive as Messiah Yeshua forgives. It's an act of faith out of our obedience to the rule and authority of Messiah. We must forgive whether we feel like it or not and by faith we must look to G-d to complete that forgiveness in us.

Everything about forgiveness is from the same force, i. e., the love of G-d. Forgiveness is connected to healing, to prosperity and even to our very ability to have faith because faith will not work without love and you cannot walk in love if you are not forgiving.

Most Christians have no idea that Yom Kippur does not atone for all sins. There are many sins that Yom Kippur will not touch. As a Jew, one can fast and pray for agonizing hours but atonement is not complete until one asks the injured party for forgiveness. It's a lesson to learn that part of our relationship with G-d is the relationship between ourselves and our fellow Jews. Perhaps the Church could take a few lessons from this. All the effort you put forth in pouring out your heart to G-d will not alleviate the pain, suffering, humiliation, slander, backbiting, gossip that you set into motion by your sin.

Our relationship with G-d and man are inseparable. We cannot railroad and trample individuals and just cry out to G-d for forgiveness and the issue be settled. That's why many in the Church are having such difficulty. G-d forgave me so man must too. Not so. We, ourselves, must go and face up to what we've done and set it right, if possible. Whether the other person forgives or not, we must do all we can to correct our part. Then, and only then, can true forgiveness be released.

When we commit sin against G-d, it is to Him we must go. When we commit sin against another person, it is to G-d and that person we must go. We must regret the sin, resolve never to do it again (true teshuva/repentance) and ask for forgiveness. If you do all you can do and the other person refuses to forgive, G-d takes that into account. But that refusal to forgive puts us in G-d's place as ruler, a dangerous place to be.

When people ask us to forgive them, we should not be stubborn and refuse to forgive. One of the lessons I have learned is that G-d treats us precisely how we treat Him and others. The Talmud asks a question that should trouble anyone holding a grudge. It tells us that one of the questions the Angel of Death asks us at the moment of death is, "Did you treat your friend royally? " All children of G-d are Kings and Priests, princes and princesses in G-d's royal family.

Many wonder why G-d doesn't answer their prayers. Our prayers can be hindered according to G-d's Word by our failure to forgive others. Some people wonder why they haven't received their healing. Could it be unforgiveness? The same anointing that heals is behind forgiveness.

The Word of G-d records an act of Yeshua that is enlightening. In Yochanan-Makabi / Mark 2 four friends tore off Kefa's/Peter's roof to take their friend to Yeshua for healing. Yeshua saw the faith of this man's friends and yet, the very first thing Yeshua said was, verse 5, "He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God]." That forgiveness released the anointing to heal the man.

The burden-removing, yoke-destroying anointing of Messiah Yeshua is the very power behind forgiveness. When we refuse to forgive others we choke off the very power and anointing of G-d in our lives. So be a forgiver. Get over it....whatever the it is.

Yeshua is soon to come and we want to be without spot or wrinkle. A person who refuses to forgive won't be going.

“Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible."