How many times have you forgiven someone? Are you willing to forgive? Or do you hold a grudge? Does forgiving someone feel like you are giving in to them? Have you considered what the lack of forgiveness is doing to you? Do you know Jesus has instructed us to forgive?
Forgiveness is a challenge for us. Even if we think or say we are forgiving someone, we can still hold onto a piece of the offense. We may not fully forgive. Some of us do not want to forgive but prefer to hold a grudge. We may seek revenge or retribution. We damage ourselves.
When Peter asked Jesus if we should forgive seven times, Peter thought he was being overly generous. Jesus responded with a number seventy times greater. Jesus’s point was not a number but to continually forgive. His instruction is for our well-being. We cannot be truly free unless we forgive. Holding a grudge is like putting ourselves in a prison cell while holding the key. We have chosen to lock ourselves into a bad place. By forgiving, we set ourselves free.
Forgiveness does not mean we forget. If someone has repeatedly offended us, we are not required to put ourselves in a bad situation with them again. We can learn from the offenses and make different choices as we move forward. Yet, it is the forgiveness we give that is the key to setting ourselves free.
I pray we all choose forgiveness. I pray we realize we are only imprisoning ourselves by not forgiving. I pray each one of us will forgive our offenders and set ourselves free. Choose forgiveness. Do not imprison yourself. Forgive your offender. Set yourself free.
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”
Marty Pressey 