What goes around comes around

The other day I was so offended by a friend that I couldn’t hold back and I told them exactly what I thought of their actions. Did I forgive them? Yes I did. After I told them how I felt about their actions. This bothered me so much that I found myself needing to ask them to forgive me for my reaction. When all was said and done my friend and I both grew from the experience. This got me to thinking about the Fathers forgiveness.

In Matthew 18, Christ tells us “what we release on earth will be released in heaven”. I have always had some questions about this statement. However if I look at the context of the statement it appears to me He is referring to us condemning or forgiving someone of an offense. If we forgive, He will forgive.

Peter asks “How many times must I forgive, 7 times”? Christ responds by saying “seventy times seven”. Now if I try counting the offenses just so I can react on the 491^st time then I must ask myself if I have forgiven them even once.

Now, the good side to this is that, if I release forgiveness He does the same. So I asked myself: would the Father ask me to do something He does not do himself? I believe that the answer to this is pretty clear. God always forgives us for our offenses toward Him. However, if I do not release forgiveness on earth will He still release forgiveness in heaven? According to Matthew 18 I’m not sure He will.

Forgiveness, Grace and Mercy. I’m not sure we can totally wrap our human brain around the Fathers willingness to shower these gifts on us.

It is vitally important that we forgive those who offend us. If we hold on to an offense then our hands won’t be open to receive what God wants to give us.

I know how difficult this is and I am in no way trying to make it sound like I have perfected this. There are still many people I struggle to forgive.

Last week I sat with a group of guys and discussed the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. We reviewed how the Father had forgiven the younger son for his offenses. Yet the older brother who had stayed home and labored couldn’t find the grace to forgive his brother. The older brother refused to join the family in celebration over his little brothers repentance. The Father had to leave the celebration and go outside the house to help his son see that all of us need forgiveness.

So at this time, I want to ask you to forgive me for anytime I have offended you. My prayer is that we can let go of past offenses so we can have open hands to receive the forgiveness Christ has for us.

Now let’s celebrate, because Christ has forgiven us for each time we have offended Him.

How many times will He forgive us? 70x7.

Remember to always ride the narrow road and stop in and see us again.

Larry