"Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.- Matthew 18:21-23
Forgiving
others is a hard process. It puts us in a vulnerable place when we allow
ourselves to let someone “off the hook”. When someone wrongs us in any way the
last thing we want to do is put their erroneous deed behind, but it is necessary
for us to grow. Here are 4 reasons why we need to forgive others:
1)
Revelation- Jesus told Peter we need to
forgive. He compares the Kingdom of God to forgiveness. This is exactly why we
must do it. If we want others to understand the Kingdom of God and the message
of Jesus, then forgiveness should be the first thing we practice. It will
enhance our service, our love, our compassion, our empathy, and our connection
with those around us we are called to share the Gospel with for God to reveal
His purpose.
2)
Freedom- When we allow ourselves to forgive
people of their wrongdoing it frees us from holding a grudge. It allows us to
walk freely into new relationships, friendships, or partnerships without being
handcuffed by the bitterness of being deceived or betrayed.
3)
Trust- Forgiveness opens the door for
trust. If we hold on to the hostility towards others we limit ourselves. Trust
is essential for moving forward in any relationship. We may not know it, but if
we hold on to resentment towards another person, it can definitely carry over
to new connections. We need to trust the fact that our forgiveness will be
worth it for us and for the other person.
4)
New Life- We may not want to admit or accept
this, but our forgiveness can bring new life to us and/or the person being
forgiven. The person who has done the deed knows what they have done (maybe)
and by you carrying the anger towards them holds them back as well. Let’s say I
am the one who has done something to someone else to cause them frustration. I
have no idea I did something, but every time I see this individual I know there
is something not right. I will now dwell on this and our relationship is
stalled or broken. If that person comes to me and shares what I did and they
have forgiven me, it allows me to move forward. It will also renew or assist in
the process of renewing the relationship. It is a new life breathed into
fellowship.
Forgiveness
is not easy. It may take some time. However, if we are stubborn and choose to
hold on to grudges or anger, then we end up hurting ourselves. We may not know
we are hurting ourselves until it is too late, when we start to assume our
other relationships will end in the same way and our connection with others is
frayed and/or broken completely due to our inability to let things go.
Forgiveness is essential for growth spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Allow
yourself to forgive and move forward so you can continue to serve and love the
way we are meant to do.
Question:
Are you holding on to something towards someone else? Why haven’t you forgiven
them? Do they know? Take the steps necessary to free you from the bondage.
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