There are some things that cannot be separated in the NT, though we try: God’s forgiveness of us and our forgiving others, nor His love for us and our love for others, nor His mercy for us and being just that merciful to those around us, nor His overflowing grace and our giving grace. These things always go together: Understanding and appreciating His forgiveness of us requires that we forgive; when His unconditional love has finally penetrated our hearts, mind and soul, we know to maintain the relationship we have to give love away; how can we withhold mercy from another when it has been so freely given to us?; the inability to give grace is a sure sign that we have not yet fully received it ourselves. Freely we have received, and freely we give. The receiving must be connected to the giving in this relationship of God, you and others. What we keep we lose; what we give away we possess. It can never be just about you and God. It always involves others. Forgiveness, love, mercy and grace is just how it works with the Father and His children.
Father, free us from the illusion that we have Your gifts when we hoard them. Teach us to give away what You give us so we will bear Your DNA, proving that You are our Father. Amen!
