‘I just can’t forgive her for doing that’. Have you ever said or thought that?
Jesus is saying that those who have understood, who celebrate and remember daily God’s forgiveness CAN and will want to forgive others. He wants us to be tools of that kind of love and forgiveness. But it is only when we have really grasped the bigness of what God has done in forgiving us that we are able to begin on that road. Have you been overwhelmed by God’s forgiveness?
This is a dramatic story, the baddy is very bad. The person who was harmed by his lack of forgiveness was HIM. Not forgiving harms us not the person we need to forgive.
But what does forgiving someone mean? What is forgiveness? What if the person shows no sign of remorse?
Forgiveness means you stop holding something against someone, you relinquish the right for revenge, for repayment .You trust that person to God’s justice. Forgiveness is not easy. It is a daily choice. It is hard work.
Perhaps it means you relinquish even thinking about it, stop chewing it over. But it will be your choice, sometimes holding onto thoughts and feelings feels safer than change.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean the trust is restored. That can take time and may never happen.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Matt 6.13
But he who has been forgiven little loves little. Luke 7.47
(homegroup member)