“Surely Jesus will be impressed with me,” Peter must have assumed. Forgiving people once or twice for an offense is expected, but seven times? That’s almost worthy of sainthood, right? Jesus saw the teaching moment and capitalized on it. He insisted on seventy times seven. Peter’s jaw must have dropped to the ground. But the literal number 490 was only a metaphor. It really meant over and over to the point of no longer keeping a count! Forgiving people must become a habitual commitment. This sometimes requires a deep intention of the will, but such continual forgiveness is the only thing that can free us from a life of bitterness.
We may have many reasons for being offended by people, but God requires us to free ourselves from the burden of holding the offense. Forgiveness allows us to experience God in a closer way as we grow into a greater understanding of what He did for us on the cross. The sinless Son of God took on our offense of sin and, in return, grants us forgiveness. It is a wonderful reality that should shape how we treat those who have wronged us.
As we go about our business in life, let us remember to walk in forgiveness as Jesus instructed. The act of forgiving others will serve as a reminder of all the forgiveness that we have received from our God. Our lives will truly be modeled after Jesus.
How can practicing forgiveness bring us closer to God?
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