For Our Redemption Grace Is Valiantly Emphasized (F.O.R.G.I.V.E)

By Ramesh C. Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Editors note: These devotionals are based on the time I spent in the Word of God and are taken from my personal archives.

 May the Lord continue to work in each of your life as you trust in Him. Amen!

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times [70 x 7]." (Matt 18:21-22)

 We hear the term 3 strikes and you are out of there not only in baseball but in real life when it pertains to different areas of life.  Forgiving someone for a same wrong two times seems ok, but the 3rd time the same thing is done, many start to get really irritated. Peter may have felt that he was being really generous when he asked Jesus the question of forgiveness and suggested 7 times. Jesus did not say that's really cool Peter, at least you are willing to forgive 4 extra times. Rather Jesus made the point that you should forgive seventy-times seven.

 Jesus was emphasizing the importance of forgiveness when He said 70X7. It is in no way to be taken that I will forgive my brother 490 times and then no more. The important thing to realize is that we should not put a number on forgiveness but be forgiving. I don't know of people going around and counting, I forgave this person 100-200-300-400-490 times and no more.

I ask you now dear friend, how can you forgive?

One time or another you may have been hurt really badly by those you trusted, by those you fell in love with, by your close friends, or especially your family members. If you allow those hurts, resentment, and anger to be bottled up inside, the bitterness will slowly eat you away. I can tell you from personal experience that forgiveness is the hardest thing to do and revenge seems much sweeter but it will start destroying you on the inside. Forgiveness is never easy but I know Jesus Christ will help us when we ask him for help to forgive those who have wronged us deeply. We forgive not just for the sake of the other person but most of all to set ourselves free. When we hold forgiveness from others, we hold ourselves in deep bondage. Jesus does not want that for us.

 Jesus knows what unforgiveness can do and He wanted to set each of us free so He went to the cross for us. I don't know about you but I ask God to forgive me for so many things and God does in His grace. I need to do the same.

This is not a message of condemnation but a message of deliverance so you can be free and help your others be free who are holding an unforgiving spirit towards someone else. Matt 18 also has 'the parable of the unforgiving servant' that makes the analogy that if we are forgiven so many times and we don't grant that same forgiveness to others, we miss God's forgiveness in our own lives. The Lord's prayer has the verse: "Forgive us our transgressions as we forgive our transgressors".

 For Our Redemption Grace Is Valiantly Emphasized (F.O.R.G.I.V.E)/"How can you forgive?"

Jesus loves you so much no matter where you have been or what you have done. Even when we continue to make the same mistakes time after time, Jesus will still forgive us when we go to Him. If Jesus emphasized 70X7 to humans, He definitely will forgive us indefinitely. This is why Jesus came so that we will find redemption through His grace. Grace is valiantly emphasized because Christ endured the cross for us so we can be free.

Never think God will not forgive you, you can always go to Him. If you are struggling with a particular sin and seem to be held in bondage, please read Romans 7:14-8:1. Try offering the same forgiveness to those who have wronged you.

Even if you have a hard time forgiving someone else, let the Lord know that and express your feelings to him. Choose to forgive and allow the Lord to take care of the rest. He will.  Satan loves to feed of people who are unforgiving but the Lord wants to set you free. With the help the Lord gives, you can start to forgive. What has helped me to forgive is spending time in His Word and praying a lot. For humans forgiveness is not an instant process always and the Lord knows that. When we turn to Him, He will help us and forgive us!

Claim this promise for yourself:

"For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our trangressions from us." (Psalm 103:11-12)

 Prayer:

Jesus, I thank you that you have forgiven us so many times. Well Lord, it is not easy for us to forgive those who have wronged us. It is really hard Lord. But, Lord you want us to forgive and so please help us Lord. We cannot do it on our own because our flesh loves to hate but your Spirit in us loves to love. We want you to fill us with so much love for those who have wronged us that we might be forgiving and show your love to the world. Thank you so much Jesus! We put our faith and trust in you to deliver us for without you it is hard to forgive. Thank you Jesus no matter how many times we sin, when we come to you for forgiveness, you do forgive us and are patient with us. We hold on to you so that you can help us forgive others. Thanks Jesus for dying for our sins and coming back to life to save us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen! Thanks you hear us and answer us! Amen!