by Ward W. Bond, PhD
Let's get real here. There are just some people in this world who are very difficult to forgive. We've all been done wrong for no apparent reason and the more you think about your situation the more bitter, unforgiving and angered you become. Peter asked Jesus how many times must we forgive? Peter said 7 times? Jesus said, 70 X 7! The point is not having to forgive someone almost 500 times, but to forgive to the point you are free. We're all human and sometimes we would rather punch people in the nose than to forgive them. The forgiveness is not necessarily for them, but it's for you. We are to forgive others who have sinned against us, the same way Christ forgave us and He forgave us by being nailed to the cross. If we do not forgive others, then Christ doesn't have to forgive you of your sins. Mark 11:26 says, "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Forgiveness isn't easy and that's why there is grace.
Let's get real here. There are just some people in this world who are very difficult to forgive. We've all been done wrong for no apparent reason and the more you think about your situation the more bitter, unforgiving and angered you become. Peter asked Jesus how many times must we forgive? Peter said 7 times? Jesus said, 70 X 7! The point is not having to forgive someone almost 500 times, but to forgive to the point you are free. We're all human and sometimes we would rather punch people in the nose than to forgive them. The forgiveness is not necessarily for them, but it's for you. We are to forgive others who have sinned against us, the same way Christ forgave us and He forgave us by being nailed to the cross. If we do not forgive others, then Christ doesn't have to forgive you of your sins. Mark 11:26 says, "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Forgiveness isn't easy and that's why there is grace.