Learning Forgiveness
I wanted to talk a little about forgiveness today as that seemed to be the topic in a few conversations I had this week with friends and family. So many people, including ourselves, have wronged so many others sometimes, without even realizing we’ve done so.
How hard is it to forgive another? Often, the things people say or do is harsh. It hurts us and we feel nothing but anger for them forgetting the lessons God has taught us.
Jesus’s Parable on Forgiveness and Heaven
Matthew 18:23-35 – “Because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants’ accounts. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.”
“Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.”
And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
In this lesson, Christ has clearly laid-down the law for us. It is our duty and responsibility as children of God to learn to forgive one another.
How Many Times?
I know what you’re thinking. Some people just continue to do me wrong. They, for whatever reason, have something against me and are constantly putting me down. How many times are we supposed to forgive them?!
The Apostle Peter asked this of Christ when He had just spoken about forgiving others. “Teacher, how many times should one forgive, until seven times?” To which Jesus answered him…
Matthew 18:22 – “I do not say to you seven times, but until seventy times seven.”
I can assure you, Jesus was not telling us 490 times would be sufficient. He was simply making a point. If our Brothers and Sisters are willing to repent, we are to forgive them according to God’s will.
Family
Yes, sadly, this happens all too often. As close as a family may be, we sometimes criticize each other and pay no attention to the things we say or do. First of all, we need to be more mindful of these deeds remembering that mere words can be harsh and have a serious impact on another’s feelings.
Even so, wrongful things will be done. It just seems to be the nature of our society. So, when they do occur, remember what God has taught us and learn to forgive your Brothers and Sisters no matter how often they may wrong you.
As we’re reminded, once again…
Luke 17:3-4 – “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
At Work
I know personally, this can happen a lot. It’s not uncommon for our fellow co-workers to malign us, put us down or exploit a mistake we might have made. Most of the time they are seeking their own gain. They want to get ahead of you and be the better employee no matter what the cost to you.
Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
God tells us here to “work heartily” for ourselves. Not the benefit of others but simply to fulfill His word and show others our honesty and dedication to our tasks. But, in all things, give thanks to God!
Sara’s Story
What do we discover when we learn to forgive one another? I’d like to share a little story from my Daughter’s friend Sara.
When is it Enough?
I know what you may be thinking as I have had the same thoughts as well. How many times must I keep forgiving someone for the same thing over and over and over?
Matthew 18:15-17 – “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
What the important thing to remember here is God isn’t telling us to stop Loving someone at all. He is merely saying that, should you follow these steps, you have done the righteous thing in His eyes.
Asking Jesus for His Help
Sometimes this is a step we all too often forget. As it is with anything difficulties we face, we should always remember to ask Jesus for His guidance. Equally as important, we need to recognize the signs when He is helping us through these times.
It is often a difficult thing to forgive one another. The pain may be deep and the scars forever, how then can we forgive those that gave us these wounds?
More often than not, when we attempt to do a good thing, and we’ve asked God for help… he will provide the words.
The Carpenter
I hope you found peace in this story and truly understood the meaning. As we’ve always said, “He may not always give us what we want, but He will always give us what we need!”
Read the story of The Carpenter here…
The Greatest Act of Forgiveness
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I am sure there is not one of us here today that can forget this, the greatest act of forgiveness in all of history. Our Father in Heaven, sent his only Son that he might teach us the lessons of God; show us the ways to righteousness; be ridiculed, beaten and eventually crucified in order that His blood would wash away our sins and that our Father in Heaven forget our wicked ways.
I can assure, no act of forgiveness we can do can ever match that of what our Lord and Savior has done for us!
Go with God; be good to one another; always stay humble; always be kind… God Bless!