“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Jesus knew all to well the outcome of their actions. With ten words He laid a foundational block for His followers. “But how many times shall we forgive them”, Peter asked. “Seven times Seventy”, was the Lord’s reply. But what if my brother did me wrong? Then go to him offer and seek forgiveness, so your Father in Heaven will forgive you.
In life we can choose what path or course we take. Sometimes there is prodding along the way to push us in undesired directions. And when those times lead to struggles, failures, and lonely days we often find the desire to curse or hold a grudge against a particular person or group. It may be something as simple as having someone cross you, or not lending a helping hand, or being lackadaisical about your feelings. Any way it happens the grudge remains and so does the sin.
Festering about the treatment or the wrongs done to you does not equate much of a justification in God’s eyes. If my brother does me wrong seven times, am I to forgive him seven times? Yes. It doesn’t mean you must keep being a whipping boy, but a brother does need forgiveness. When the unforgiveness remains, it becomes a yoke that binds you to that person until the issue is resolved. If it isn’t dealt with, by you, once the issue is known, then God takes a moment to step in and corrects His child.
You see, when you come to the point of the Cross and accept the saving grace of Jesus you put on a lordship and son/daughter-ship that elevates you to a child of the King. You become a citizen of heaven. Heaven can not let impurity and self reign in the presence of Holiness. It is a corrupting factor. It sets forth a root that has to be torn out by a Loving Father. The root is bitterness and it permeates and grows. It will stifle the fruit in your life and leave you barren if left unattended. But the Love of the Heavenly Father won’t let it go that far. He would rather help you deal with it and remove it before it becomes catastrophic. The choice is yours.
So as the day sets up, let us set out to be an understanding and forgiving family. It is our family after all. We come in many shapes and sizes as the Good Lord intended. Help us to learn to forgive as you forgave those who put you on that Cross. Amen.
Godspeed, The Journeyman
Ps. Today’s story comes from the complaints of life. May the saltiness of the Lord be found in you! May He lead you in a way that leads to a greater understanding of Him. The bible verses referenced above can be located in: Matthew 5 & 18, Luke 23, John 1, and Hebrews 12.
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