How are you at forgiveness? How easy is it for you to forgive someone who has sinned against you? Do you forgive from your heart, or is it simply lip service? Do you continue to hold a grudge long after you said or thought you had forgiven them?
Forgiving someone of a sin they committed against us is not easy. It requires us to take on the character of Jesus Christ. Many of us are unsure how to even begin. Others have no inclination to forgive. They desire to hold on to the grudge, allow it to burn them up from the inside out.
Jesus teaches us a hard truth. One that we often don’t want to hear. One that is very hard to execute in real life in some circumstances or situations. But Jesus doesn’t give us an easy out. He doesn’t say to do this unless in a certain situation. That’s what makes it so tough to comprehend and do.
Jesus gives us an ultimatum. He tells the parable of a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. One of his slaves owed him a lot of money. The slave asked to be given more time. The king, in his graciousness, forgave the entire debt. Yet the slave went to a fellow slave who owed him a pittance and demanded he pay or be thrown in jail. His behavior was reported to the king who then had him tortured. Jesus says if we do not forgive as He has forgiven us, we will be in the same boat as the slave in the parable. That is no place I want to be. How about you?
I pray we all are willing to forgive as Jesus has forgiven us. I pray we graciously accept His forgiveness. I pray we pass along forgiveness to those who sin against us. Forgive to be forgiven. Forgive others. Accept forgiveness. Jesus will forgive you. Follow Jesus’ example.
Matthew 18:34-35 “And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Marty Pressey 