Series: The Road
to Humility
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord,
how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” Matthew
18:21 NLT
She could forgive
her daughter for almost anything, except for how she treated her children.
Jan had struggled
with drug addiction most of her teen and adult life, even spending time in
prison for drug dealings. She loved her children but just couldn’t muster the
fortitude to be there for them when they were growing up and needed her the
most. Her mom and dad had to step in and raise her children. Otherwise, social
services would have taken them away.
Although her
children are now in college and high school, Jan still struggles with drug use
and depression. Her mom and dad continue to tend to her needs and the needs of
her children—who have lived with them for years. And Jan’s mom continues to
struggle with forgiving her adult daughter for what she’s done to the children.
I know a little
of her pain. I too have struggled with a son who has battled substance abuse
and who sometimes chooses not to talk to me or allow me to see my grandchild
for months at a time. But I choose to forgive, as difficult as it is.
Peter recognized the
difficulty of forgiving. He thought forgiving someone seven times for the same
offense was a gracious plenty, but Jesus said no.
According to Jesus, we should
attach no limit to our forgiveness. We represent God, and God doesn’t limit
His.
Defined,
forgiveness is releasing someone for a debt they owe because of a wrong they’ve
committed against us. Jesus did it on the cross for those who crucified Him.
Nothing anyone could do to us can compare to the harm our sin did to our
relationship with God. But knowing we need to forgive and can’t justify not
forgiving makes it no easier.
Only by God’s
power can I forgive those who hurt me—and sometimes the hurts cut deeply. And
sometimes I have to forgive the same person more than once for the same
offense. Satan has a way of bringing back up the offense—and with the memory
comes anger and unforgiveness.
Yet, failing to
forgive demonstrates that I misunderstand God’s forgiveness. Regardless of the
offenses—or how many times they’re committed—He continues to forgive. Love will
let Him do no less. And it shouldn’t me either.
Ask God to help
you forgive as you have been forgiven.
Tweetable: Who do you need to forgive?
Prayer: Father,
give us the strength to forgive those who wrong us just as You forgive our
trespasses against You.
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It may be difficult to forgive but it really is absolutely necessary to living in peace. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
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