Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22
Forgiveness isn't easy. In fact, I've heard it said, "Forgiveness would be okay if it wasn't people we had to forgive." Especially people we may not be too fond of, those who need forgiving. We've all struggled with forgiveness. Peter certainly did. As he suggests in this passage from Matthew 18, forgiving seven times even seems like a lot sometimes. Especially when it's the same person who needs our forgiveness.
Years ago I counseled a lady who was furious with her husband. He'd had an affair and she was positive she could never forgive him. After two years, in spite of her husband's repentant heart and efforts to be the man she wanted, she made good on her refusal to forgive and gave up on the marriage.
Four years later, I heard from her. She had fallen away from the church, dated many men, and been infected with HIV; it had just turned into AIDS. So I encouraged her and prayed with her over the next few months, but the disease quietly ate away at her body. Finally, on her deathbed she prayed and asked God's forgiveness for the sins of her life, and in the next breath she forgave her husband. How sad that the lack of forgiveness brought anger and the anger turned to bitterness, and bitterness brought death.
We must be willing to forgive. Jesus said, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, your Father will not forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15). Today, leave your desire for revenge, your bitterness, your negative feelings behind -- and take only the good. Don't continue a life of frustration when you can find healing in a life overflowing with forgiveness.
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