"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22
There are situations that arise in relationships where trespass, hurt, and offense happens.
A close friend or even a family member betrays or uncovers us, says or does something (either knowingly or not) hurtful, with a variety of injuries resulting, and when the dust settles we are left with the one thing that we have to do: forgive them .
Why does the Lord place such a high priority on us forgiving each other?
Why are we not supposed to, even allowed to, have unforgiveness when the other party might have deserved it totally? Love and unforgiveness cannot live in the same heart. Broken hearts are mended by love, we were created to love and be loved, but unforgiveness requires costly emotional maintenance, and that spirit has to be fed, and then it becomes a bitter root, then it becomes like a cancer. Unforgiveness kills love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit, leaving only misery, sadness, pain, anger, hatred, even resulting in physical illnesses - the opposites of the fruits of the Spirit. These are all manifestations in our natural lives, but there is another reason, even more important... Jesus tells us that unless we forgive, that our Heavenly Father will not forgive us.(Matthew 6:14-15)
We have been forgiven so much by the Lord, Jesus showed us how to forgive, even as He hung suffering on the Cross. Forgiveness unshackles us, and releases us to live life as Jesus promised us - abundantly.
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22
There are situations that arise in relationships where trespass, hurt, and offense happens.
A close friend or even a family member betrays or uncovers us, says or does something (either knowingly or not) hurtful, with a variety of injuries resulting, and when the dust settles we are left with the one thing that we have to do: forgive them .
Why does the Lord place such a high priority on us forgiving each other?
Why are we not supposed to, even allowed to, have unforgiveness when the other party might have deserved it totally? Love and unforgiveness cannot live in the same heart. Broken hearts are mended by love, we were created to love and be loved, but unforgiveness requires costly emotional maintenance, and that spirit has to be fed, and then it becomes a bitter root, then it becomes like a cancer. Unforgiveness kills love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit, leaving only misery, sadness, pain, anger, hatred, even resulting in physical illnesses - the opposites of the fruits of the Spirit. These are all manifestations in our natural lives, but there is another reason, even more important... Jesus tells us that unless we forgive, that our Heavenly Father will not forgive us.(Matthew 6:14-15)
We have been forgiven so much by the Lord, Jesus showed us how to forgive, even as He hung suffering on the Cross. Forgiveness unshackles us, and releases us to live life as Jesus promised us - abundantly.
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