Pardoning Forgiveness
by Andrey Murray

:Lord, how oft shall...I forgive him?...'
Jesus saith unto him...'Until seventy time seven.' "
Matthew 18:21-22

We pray, "Forgive, even as we have forgiven." Scripture says, "Forgive one another, even as God also in Christ forgave you." God's full and free forgiveness is to be the rule of ours with men. Otherwise our reluctant, halfhearted forgiveness, which is not forgiveness at all, will be God's rule with us. Every prayer rests upon our faith in God's pardoning grace. If God dealt with us after our sins, not one prayer could be heard. Pardon opens the door to all God's love and blessing; Because God has pardoned all our sins, our prayer can prevail to obtain all we need. The deep sure ground of answer to prayer is God's forgiving love. When it has taken possession of the heart, we pray in faith. But also, when it has taken possession of the heart, we live in love. God's forgiving disposition, revealed in His love to us, becomes a disposition in us; as the power of His forgiving love shed abroad and dwelling within us, we forgive even as He forgives.