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[49]
THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT
Read: Matthew 18:21–35; Luke 17:3-4
Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Matthew 18:21 NKJV
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Peter wanted to do the right thing and He is asking if there are limits to how much of the right thing he must do. Jesus pointed out to the disciples on another occasion that their responsibility involved more than just forgiveness – it also included confrontation.
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Forgiveness is not just about feelings, it is about behavior. The forgiving person must care enough about his brother to seek a resolution. There is no place for holding a grudge and never speaking to the person again.
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Jesus said, "If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4 NKJV)
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Lord, I realize that sometimes I don't even want to admit that a person has hurt or offended me. But when I don't face the problem, there is no opportunity for forgiveness. Then later, when a similar incident arises, buried resentment rears its ugly head and makes the situation even worse. Lord, help me to quickly act when reconciliation is needed, and always be ready to forgive.
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Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Matthew 18:22 NKJV
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Posted by sharetheword on 2008-08-12 12:53:06 | Rating: | Views: 78
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So are you saying when you've chose to forgive a person you need to go to them and find a way to interact with that person again.
I've always thought forgiving was enough. No need in joining them in the same boat again. Am I wrong?
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Posted by anotherdaze
on 2008-08-12 12:58:24
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I believe this is an area where we must be much in prayer for discerment. If it is not a blatant ongoing sin, but rather a personal offense, we may or may not need to say something to the person.
The error I made for many years in regard to personal slights was that I would tell myself that I was just too sensitive and the person probably wouldn't have done or said that if they had really thought about it.
By doing this I compounded the hurt I felt with guilt over feeling hurt, but I never thought about forgiving them. There came a time when I realized that until we acknowledge that someone sinned against us we cannot forgive them. Forgiveness is about sin, not about saying that what the person did or said doesn't matter.
Often the forgiveness needs to happen for people who may no longer be in our lives or even alive. So then it is not possible to speak to them about it. But for the present we need to keep short accounts whenever possible.
On June 10, 2000 God spoke to me about this and I reviewed all of the hurtful things people had said or done that I could remember and almost immediately I could think of about 20 things dating back to my college days. I forgave each one of those offenses on that date and now if it ever comes back to mind I just say "I already forgave that on June 10, 2000 and there is nothing more for me to do."
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Posted by sharetheword
on 2008-08-12 14:15:15
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Thank you for your insight and telling me of your personal experiences on the matter. It's helpful!
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Posted by anotherdaze
on 2008-08-12 14:48:24
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i know much about that
and sometimes people who had wrong us if they are dead
we still can ask God to forgive on your part
God knows the heart because i dont that
even those alive the people i have wrong the devil sometimes will tell you
you havnt forgave so there is sometimes a balance of what is right or what is wrong
the good news is God knows your heart.
i thought forgiveness was you can be real closed to some of the people who hurt you
and you hold a grude to but once you say i forgive you and you see them once and awhile
in your daily walk that doent mean you can be close to them again but you made peace with them.
its like if someone hits you on a face everyday you say i forgive you
but there is a time you say hey i forgive you but im not going to be hit on the face
over and over.
so there is a balance to some sitrations
God knosws the heart.
jesus also said be wise and the book of proverbs have amy scriptures to that
AMEN
you wrote in my blog on models and mentors
i never had a role model not even in home or chruch
i do know some that do but we all need to be accountable
and i would love to have a christian older person of faith
to look up too and familys in this dark age need to be examples of christ
and not let there kids be lead astray.......
amen
GOD BLESS
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Posted by good_news
on 2008-08-13 00:31:17
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other words fight the good faith
some of my worst enemies is the chruch and chrisians
because of pride but i learn to forgive them
we are saved be grace but God knows we still are human
if not i would not be here
paul said i do what i dont want to do
paul struggle for about 60 years with that and jesus set him free
he killed christians
what a merciful God we have
AMEN
rejoice in the lord
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Posted by good_news
on 2008-08-13 00:42:52
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Is. 54:7-8,10 "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with Great Mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with Everlasting Kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of My Peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee."
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Posted by good_news
on 2008-08-13 01:01:21
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I am sorry you have not had mentors in the church. Perhaps you should seek out someone and ask. I had a young woman ask me if she could meet with me once a week and I was happy to do it. I probably wouldn't have suggested it. I think it is good for the younger person to ask.
My husband says that no one ever mentored him when he was younger, but he makes mentoring young men in our youth group a priority. He has mentored for 15 years. That was three groups of teenage guys all the way through high school. Some even into college and as newlyweds.
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Posted by sharetheword
on 2008-08-13 17:18:30
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Thanks for sharing what you did about forgiveness...Your life examples are beautiful!
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Posted by sheryl
on 2008-08-17 11:36:11
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