Forgiveness Starts with You

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." 

Seven times is a lot.  To forgive seventy times seven is to forgive infinitely. 

We just experienced hurt and stabbing for the umpteenth time from the same people.  I said to myself, “that is the last time I will be stabbed.” But who am I kidding?  We have no choice other than to forgive.  Ugh! (We do have a choice to not get walked on and to not give certain people the ability to “stab” us again.  You may be in such a situation.  Sometimes you just have to stay away from certain people.) 

But this is not the case most of the time.  When we truly forgive we knowingly give people the opportunity to get us again.  This is when we need to remember what Jesus has done for us. 

Did He have to forgive us?  No.  He is love and chooses to pour His grace and mercy upon us.  He said that no one could take His life from Him, but He gave it willingly. 

The Bible says that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”!  In other words we didn’t do anything to deserve His love.  We didn’t even experience remorse until after He died for us.  He just chose to forgive us! Sometimes people are not sorry for their wrongdoings to you.  They feel no remorse, but are justified in their own minds for acting like jerks (do Christians act like jerks?). But, we are not going to be held accountable for how others’ act.  We are, though, going to give account for our actions, thoughts, and attitudes.  I want to be squeaky clean, but I need His help to want to forgive. 

So, I pray!  I ask God to help me to want to forgive.  I pray blessings for my “enemies”.  I ask that they experience God’s love (when part of me wants them to experience God’s judgment!).  So even though I have yucky feelings, I choose to pray and speak blessings. 

Is this easy?  No.  And I’m sure that everyone will experience this opportunity over and over and over.  

OK, God! We get it! 

As you can see, I need a Savior and I need Him every day!