Forgiveness

This devotion isn’t an exciting one but it’s a very important one.  It may be a touchy subject for some people. It’s about forgiveness. Specifically more toward setting yourself free and those that need your forgiveness, whether they seek it or not. 

When it comes to forgiving or not forgiving. It usually involves two different people. What I mean is one person is hurt and another person is probably feeling guilty? I know every situation is different but in my experience this is generally how things go. Or maybe the person you need to forgive is yourself.

Have you ever felt guilty? Isn’t it an awful feeling? What happens when you feel guilty ? You probably beat yourself up till you get over it or depending on the situation maybe the guilt is a bit more unbearable and long lasting? 

Most of you have been hurt by someone deeply, so you understand exactly what I am talking about.

We all have someone in our life that has hurt us at one point or another. Maybe we still have bitterness toward them or even struggle to forgive that person. Normally we call this grudge holding, and we attempt to justify it for one reason or another. If this is you and someone has popped into your mind, keep this person in mind as we go through this devotion. I know it isn’t easy but bear with me. It’s important . 

I’m going to be reading two different stories in this bible. I want to start with Mathew 18:21-35, where Jesus was talking about forgiveness and then proceeds to tell them a parable. 

Read Mathew 18:21-35 

“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. 

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew18:21-35

Why do you think Jesus shared this story?

To get a clearer picture we must understand that he was referencing that God is the Master in the story and that we are the sinner with many sins , we ask God to forgive all of our sins and he does. We then get angry at the person who has wronged us and hurt us. They ask us for forgiveness and we said no.

Remember Jesus said at the end of the parable if we don’t forgive,

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18:35 

Does that makes sense? Here’s couple more verses to read. 

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”Matthew6:14-15NIV

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke6:37NIV

So that means if we want our sins to be forgiven, we need to forgive others as well as those that ask for forgiveness.

Here’s another story for you to take into consideration. 

It’s in Luke 23:32-34 NIV.  This is not a parable , it’s a true story.

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing….”

Luke 23:32–34 NIV

Jesus was innocence. He lived a perfect life. He did miracles, he made time for people, he loved people. Yet they still crucified him. He was beat, tried and humiliated, the anguished that he felt when those nails were driven to his hands and feet must have been unbearable. 

In admist of all of that Jesus is going through, he ask God to forgive them for what they did to Jesus. It is obvious he forgave them as well. I mean he thought of them and everyone that has sinned as he was dying on the cross. He didn’t say well I’m going to make you pay. 

Christ died on the cross for our sins (not just theirs) so that we may be forgiven and have salvation. Don’t you think we should extend the same forgiveness toward others as Christ did for us? We should.

Do you know that when God forgives our sin, he cleans our slate?

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”Psalms103:12

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah43:25NIV

I think that alone is worth forgiving others. I know I want all my sins forgiven and forgotten. 

I hope you take this devotion into consideration if you are struggling with forgiveness. Whether it’s forgiving others or maybe forgiving yourself. 

I’m praying that God will help you heal on this journey of forgiveness and to set you free from this if it is something you are struggling with. 

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah43:18NIV