Seeking Him: 12 Days to Spiritual RevivalSample

Day 9: Forgiveness

The fact is, somewhere, sometimes, someone will treat us wrongly. That is an unavoidable reality of life. So, how should we respond to those who hurt us, especially if they do so intentionally? We may wonder with the apostle Peter, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (Matthew 18:21).

Humanly speaking, it was admirable that Peter was willing to forgive the same person seven times! But the kind of forgiveness Jesus advocated was (and is) supernatural. Imagine Peter’s astonishment when Jesus replied, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (v. 22 NKJV).

Jesus’ command is staggering. We must be willing to forgive the same person time after time—forgiveness is unlimited! Jesus continued His response to Peter’s question, using a parable to explain the necessity and nature of true forgiveness.

Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.”And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, “Pay what you owe.” So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (Matthew 18:23–35)

The vital message of the parable is found in the master’s question, “Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” (v. 33). In other words, the forgiven must be forgiving.

In this parable, each child of God is reminded of the following:

• We once carried a debt of sin far beyond hope of ever meeting its payment.

• God justly could have sold us into eternal slavery and anguish.

• God freely gave us full pardon, sacrificing His own “resources” (His Son) to pay our debt.

• Having been shown such mercy, we should be ever merciful to others.

Every child of God who wants to experience personal revival must be willing to deal honestly and fully with any unforgiveness that may be in his or her heart.

Choosing the pathway of forgiveness can be extremely difficult. You may have been sinned against in ways that have caused enormous pain and consequences in your life. Just thinking through this idea may be opening up some wounds or memories you’d just as soon not face. Facing the pain and walking into full forgiveness may require a process, but if you are willing to go there, God will go there with you. Hard as it may be to forgive those who have sinned against you, you will experience great freedom as you choose to obey God by His grace.

God is wise, loving, good, and sovereign. Nothing that anyone does against you can thwart His plan for your life. He will never leave you to handle the pain on your own. He can turn the evil committed against you into good. Those who have sinned against you may be instruments He uses to sanctify you—to mold and conform you to the image of Jesus.

Consider:

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” How would you describe the way God has forgiven us? (Consider Psalm 103:10–12, for starters.) How should His forgiveness affect how we deal with those who sin against us?