63. Be Forgiven
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
This conditional promise is a prime example of reciprocity and the sowing-reaping principle. The judging, condemning, and forgiving in this promise is from one human to another, not forgiveness from God. This illustrates the principle of the Golden Rule (Do unto other as you would like them to do unto you). Down deep we know it is true, but we often forget it. What you give you will get; you reap what you sow; what goes around comes around; you will be treated in the same way you treat others.
If you judge you will be judged; if you gossip you will be gossiped about; if you are mean people will be mean to you, and so on. We will receive in kind and in equal measure from others as we give out to others, both positively and negatively. If you are nice to others they will be nice to you. And here: if you forgive others, others will forgive you.
This truth is more of a principle or a proverb than a promise, but the conditional promise, “you get what you give,” is an important part of it. One of the failings of sinful human nature is that we tend to think that certain rules don’t apply to us, that we are above the law, that we are like God and can judge and withhold forgiveness as we feel like it. We need the Word and Promise of God to remind us that the Rules of Life (The Law) applies equally to us as we would apply it to others. What makes us think we can judge others, criticize, gossip and belittle with impunity? Sin and Pride do.
On the other hand, what makes us think we can forgive, love, be nice to, and treat others well and receive such treatment in return? The Word of God does. The Word reminds us that every word, decision and action has consequences; these consequences have even been spelled out in the Bible. Hearing and keeping the Word of God brings many pleasant consequences. God promises: “forgive and you shall be forgiven.” You are not counting and you don’t always see it, but you can know it is accurate because God said so. God sees, and God counts, and God promises.