“Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22

 “I’m sorry for being mean today,”  Little One says. Sissy replies: “It’s ok. I was mean too. And I’m sorry.”

They laughed, hugged and turned to their music: “You make everything glooorious, I am Yoooours!” They sang and danced together.

Sitting at my desk and smiling ear to ear, I remember hearing God whisper:

“They bless my heart.”

That happened several years ago, but I remember it vividly. The easy way our children extended forgiveness to each other was then and is today one of the many reasons I am so proud to be their mom.

F.O.R.G.I.V.E.N.E.S.S.

Is there anything harder to break through, more difficult to master, than asking for and extending forgiveness?

I think not.

And yet, it’s evident that those who forgive have a richer, more peaceful life than those who hold grudges or are too prideful to admit when they’re wrong.

Truly, I firmly believe that forgiveness is one of the keys to an abundant life. On the other hand, lack of forgiveness is the reason behind much of people’s stress and misery. And even though unforgiveness hurts the one who does not forgive much deeper than it hurts the offender, it is certainly the natural response in the natural world.

[bctt tweet=”Unforgiveness hurts the one who does not forgive much deeper than it hurts the offender. #MondayMotivation #MondayDevotional” username=”PatHolbrook”]

Take the movie industry, for example. In many movies and TV series, revenge is the central point of the plot in many blockbusters. Turning the other cheek? Nope. “Revenge belongs to ME”, the world cries out.

But what about us, Jesus followers? How do we respond to repeated offenses?

“Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 

Let’s be honest. We can relate to Peter. As a matter of fact, our dear apostle thought he was being “extra spiritual” when he asked the Lord if forgiving seven times was enough. After all, he had heard Jewish rabbis teach that forgiving the same offender three times was sufficient.

Jesus exposed the true issue behind this concept: Peter was holding a forgiveness meter. His words showed that he intended to measure up the injuries done to him. When the measure was full, he would be allowed to avenge the wrongdoing. Therefore he still thought of himself as a judge somewhat, when God tells us that “there’s only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy…” James 4:12 a

“Seventy times seven”, Jesus said.

Seven. The number that represents completion. Perfection. Righteousness revealed. Indeed – is there anything more righteous than extending grace and forgiveness to the undeserving? Is there anything more Christ-like than saying: “It’s ok… I’ve been mean too. I forgive you.”

(Just as my daughter told her little sister…)

Or do we tend to behave as the slave in the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor on Matthew 18, whose huge debt was completely forgiven by his Master, and yet, was unable to extend the same forgiveness to his fellow slave? The measure of his debt couldn’t compare to the amount his friend owed him. In today’s money, his Master had forgiven him a debt equivalent to over $ 10 million dollars. A fortune! His friend owed him about $15 dollars. Still, he would not forgive him.

Sounds ridiculous, right?

And it is. Yet, Jesus’ message rings with the intensity of the meaning behind this parable: How dare we withhold a smudge of grace from our brothers and sisters, when we were lavished by grace through His precious blood?

[bctt tweet=”How dare we withhold a smudge of grace from our brothers and sisters, when we were lavished by grace through His precious blood? #MondayMotivation #MondayDevotional” username=”PatHolbrook”]

No, it’s not easy. I don’t claim it to be. But forgiveness is not an option. It’s a demand. We must forgive, lest we impair our connection with the Father. He can’t extend grace when we withhold it from our neighbor. The Bible is filled with reminders of that truth. (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; Luke 6:37; Romans 12:19)

[bctt tweet=”Forgiveness is not an option. It’s a demand. ” username=”PatHolbrook”]

“Will you forgive AGAIN?” God may be asking you today.

Will you forgive that person who hurt you for the seventh, one-hundredth time? Will you let go of the pain that someone so deeply inflicted in your past? Will you forgive them… one more time?

What should your answer be?

A twelve-year-old’s life lesson is your answer: “Yes, I will, Father. Because I’ve been mean to others too.”

May God teach our hearts to forgive Seventy times seven… in other words, always and completely… Enough to become more like Jesus.

[bctt tweet=”May God teach our hearts to forgive Seventy times seven… in other words, always and completely… Enough to become more like Jesus. #MondayMotivation #MondayDevotional” username=”PatHolbrook”]

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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP is open! We are called to forgive by a Father Who mercifully forgives all our sins. But some people make it hard… especially when they continually hurt us. Join the party & share your blog!” username=”PatHolbrook”]