Luke 17:1-4 – “Then he said to the disciples it is impossible that no offense should come but woe to him through whom they do come, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
I want to share a story with you. A few Sundays ago, I was standing at the gate of my local church greeting the brethren as they came in. Two of my fellow brothers were also outside, one was standing beside me, while the other busied himself assembling chairs for congregants to sit. Suddenly something remarkable happened. The individual who was standing beside me, went up to the brother who was arranging the chairs and said to him, “I want to repent for my actions towards you, I want to ask for your forgiveness, I apologise for my behaviour and refusal, to comply with protocols.”
I looked on in awe. It takes a lot of courage to ask for forgiveness. However, what happened next sealed the deal, the other brother replied with a smile on his face, ” You are forgiven, there are no hard feelings my brother, one love.” I’m not sure of what transpired between them beforehand, but I was grateful to witness the act of forgiveness. I was watching Matthew 5:22-25 unfold before me.
There are three fundamental truths about forgiveness:
- Forgiveness brings you a relief of the heavy burden and resentment that you are carrying.
- Forgiveness helps the perpetrator and victim to reconcile.
- In forgiveness, there is freedom.
As 1 John 1:9 says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Read: Matthew 5:21-26; 2 Corinthians 2:1-11
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 18:1-6; Matthew 21:1-17; Job 19; Job 20; Job 21
