Forgive and Forget
READ: Matthew 18: 21-35
Sharon and Lori never really got along. They were in many classes together and, therefore, would compete for the better grades. In sports, competition was also great between them. Then, to top it off, they had different groups of friends and both were the most popular of each group.
Lori tended to mind her own business and be as kind as possible, but Sharon just couldn’t say one nice thing to her or about her. Day after day, Lori kept forgiving Sharon for the things she did or said to hurt Lori’s feelings. Eventually, Lori was getting tired of it and began wondering if she should keep on forgiving.
Do you ever feel like a “Lori?” Many people do and ask themselves, “How many times shall I forgive this same person?”
Jesus gave Peter the answer when Peter asked if he should forgive his brother up to seven times. Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
This doesn’t mean you should count each time you forgive and once you get to seventy-seven times, you can stop forgiving. Jesus meant you should forgive and infinite number of times—double of what you plan or hope to. After all, God forgives us each day of our lives, even when we don’t know we are sinning. No matter how great the sin is, or how many times we sin, God always forgives. As Christians, we, including Lori, should use God as an example and always “forgive and forget.”
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: Would we want God to forgive us like we forgive others? Do we always forgive like we should? If we forgive someone five times, should we forgive them again?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God to give you a heart that loves like his. Ask God to give you the strength to forgive those who wrong you. Pray that God would help you overcome sin.