Power for Relationships:
Grace Not Grudges
Scripture Reading: Mark 11:22-24
Key Verse: Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
There is one last slice to having the power for relationships: Grace Not Grudges. In our scripture for today Jesus is giving a key truth to developing and maintaining relationships. If you read the suggested additional reading, you have noted some exciting things about our relationships with God. Faith in God can move mountains, Jesus promises. Faith in God allows us, according to Jesus, to ask whatever we need and it will be given to us!
By the time we reach the 25th verse of this section of scripture, we should be truly excited about prayer. But then the truth in verse 25 can throw water on that excitement. Jesus is clear: If you are holding a grudge, your Father in heaven will not forgive you of your sins. Jesus is concluding His thoughts on prayer so I believe it can be tied to the previous verses. Thus, if we hold grudges, we shouldn’t expect God to grant our requests.
Your closest relationships will often be your toughest ones to deal with in a Christ like manner. Those closest to you can hurt you the most—and often do. It is easy to hold a grudge and not open our hearts to them. If we do, it will damage both our relationship with them and our relationship with God. God granted us His grace. Grace is unmerited favor. Pass it on to everyone around you!
Father, thank you for extending me what I couldn’t earn—your love and mercy. Help me to do the same for others close to me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.