2Chronicles 7:14 “if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The first time I ever heard or noticed this text was when I attended a Christian highschool. It was a song we sang in Choir that was based on this text. The song is beautiful and powerful. I can still picture Mr. Dixon trying to get more volume out of us as we sang, “I will forgive their sins” and then quieting us down as we sang, “and heal their land.” To this day I cannot hear or read this text without having the song play through my mind.
This text shows a God who keeps calling back His people. God had done so much for these people yet they kept ignoring Him and following their own wants and desires. They became proud and thought they knew what was best rather than letting God lead them. These people only remembered God when things became difficult for them. Notice how God just calls them back to Him. He doesn't shake His head, yell at them, or say things like, “Why did you do that?!” or “What's wrong with you people?!” He just asks that the people humble themselves, pray, and look towards God.
Psalms 86:5 says, “For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and rich in mercy to all those who call on You. “ God is READY to forgive. It doesn't take any arm twisting or showering of gifts to get forgiveness from God.
In following God's example our approach to others is to be ready to forgive and to be merciful in our forgiveness. None of us are perfect. We all find ourselves in need of another's forgiveness, which also means we are in need of God's forgiveness for doing something wrong to another person. Therefore we are in no position to point condemning fingers when we are hurt by someone because we all have been in need of forgiveness. Remember the parable in Matthew 18:23-35. A man owed a debt to the King he couldn't pay. The king forgave it and then the man went to his servant and demanded the servant to pay what the servant owed the man. When the servant couldn't pay, the man had him thrown in jail. When the king heard about it, the man was then handed over to tormentors until his debt was paid. Jesus went on to say that God would do the same to us if we don't forgive from our hearts. Notice the following texts;
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.
Mark 11:25, 26 And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive it so that also your Father in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses.
God cannot forgive when we won't forgive others because the very act of not forgiving is to turn away from God and go against His will. It is only when we remove all pride, humble ourselves, recognize that God is in charge and the only Judge that we are able to truly be repentant of our actions and attitude. It is then that it becomes possible to forgive and to be forgiven. True forgiveness is not something we can do on our own. There is too much hurt and pride involved. It is only by God working through us that we can forgive another, let go of the angry feelings we have towards them, and finally get rid of the grudge we've been carrying around for them.