Forgiving much?

It's strange that we want forgiveness for ourselves when we're wrong, but punishment for others when they are wrong. We want grace in our times of failure. We want others to have wrath in their times of failure. We expect our holy God to overlook our sin, but we who are corrupt tend to not overlook a single offense. We want understanding and love when we offend, but when we are offended, we want maximum penalty. These things reveal how self-centered our hearts are.

IF Christ has come to bear in our lives; IF we've been rescued from the darkness and live in the Light; IF we've heard His voice; IF we know forgiveness we don't deserve; IF we understand we are blessed when we SHOULD experience wrath... IF we know these things, we emulate them. IF we have Jesus running through our veins, He forgives THROUGH us...

I want to be forgiving. It's right.
I want to be forgiving. It's good (even for my own spirit!).
I want to be forgiving. It's how my Father is.

I want to be merciful. It's right.
I want to be merciful. It's good (even when it's hard!).
I want to be merciful. It's how my Father is.

"...and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:12, 14-15, ESV) "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:25)

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:12-17)