“NO, SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN…”
Read
Matthew
18:22-35
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know
what they are doing’. Luke
An oft quoted saying several years ago
was, ‘forgive and forget, but first get even!’
Although we may smile at this worldly wisdom, do we frequently find
ourselves reacting or overreacting to perceived slights in our daily
lives? Even though these ‘hurts’ might
have been unintentional, do we overlook them or do we see these acts as a
personal affront and turn or thoughts to retaliation?
The Bible
has much to say about forgiveness and in the abstract we may view ourselves as
being very forgiving persons. However,
when it comes to the realities of our everyday life, do we harbor our hurts? Do we react with acts of love or acts of
retaliation? Is our reaction
“I’ll show him!” or “I’ll teach them” to treat me this way”? Surely this is not the Lord’s way and how do
we square such thoughts with Jesus’ admonition , “… if you do not forgive men their sins, your
Father will not forgive your sins.”
(Matthew 6:14)
The question
becomes, ‘May I consider myself a Christian and yet feel free to retaliate
rather than to forgive?’ When we feel
attacked should our prayer become, ‘Lord, as You have
so graciously forgiven my numerous sins, help me to react to these hurts and/or
slights as You would have me do. Help me
to turn the other cheek rather than twist the knife with retaliatory
words. I ask this in Your Name, Amen.