Do I Have To? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

***cmc*** · 09-07-2008, 06:52 PM

September 7, 2008
Key Passage: Matthew 18:21-35
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness
Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22, ESV)

Let's be straight up: none of us like to forgive someone who's hurt us. It goes against everything inside of us.

We feel that forgiving someone will let them off the hook--they won't have to pay for what they did to us. We also feel that if we forgive them, they may do it again. And we can't imagine going through the pain again.

So what do we do? We don't forgive. We choose to hold onto all those painful emotions and memories. And we say things like, "I'll never forgive her" or, "He hurt me so bad he doesn't deserve to be forgiven."

But there's a problem, and His name is Jesus. You see, Jesus poses a real problem for anyone who wants to follow him but doesn't want to forgive. Not only must we forgive those who hurt us, but we may have to do it over and over.

Peter asked if it was enough to forgive someone seven times. Jesus replied with a big, fat, "No!" In fact, Jesus said we have to keep on forgiving them hundreds of times. He could have well said a billion times.

The point is a Christ-follower must forgive others, because he or she has been forgiven. Since God is a perfect, holy God who forgives us all the times we mess up, then we need to forgive those who hurt us.

© 2008 NotReligion

IO Storm · 09-07-2008, 11:47 PM

I copied and pasted my recent post on "The Gentle Art Of Blessing"

Quote:

I found that forgiveness...a personal encounter...He spoke to me

in a hotel room and said "You will not kill yourself..not today." In that moment..I also

saw myself (as I was) so sick, so "dirty"..but (through His eyes of love)

totally and completely forgiven. Finally..(and still within that moment)

I forgave myself and stopped running. How can I not forgive others after that experience?

It is not easy. But all I have to do is to look back..and remember my

first amends..were to God, and to myself.

The grace so freely given to us, we must not withhold...

Thanks, cmc

TooMuch4TooLong · 10-05-2008, 04:41 PM

Great post. I need to learn to forgive myself and forgive him. Thanx CMC.

09-07-2008, 06:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
*cmc* Community Greeter Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: FL Posts: 13,706	Do I Have To? September 7, 2008 Key Passage: Matthew 18:21-35 Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22, ESV) Let's be straight up: none of us like to forgive someone who's hurt us. It goes against everything inside of us. We feel that forgiving someone will let them off the hook--they won't have to pay for what they did to us. We also feel that if we forgive them, they may do it again. And we can't imagine going through the pain again. So what do we do? We don't forgive. We choose to hold onto all those painful emotions and memories. And we say things like, "I'll never forgive her" or, "He hurt me so bad he doesn't deserve to be forgiven." But there's a problem, and His name is Jesus. You see, Jesus poses a real problem for anyone who wants to follow him but doesn't want to forgive. Not only must we forgive those who hurt us, but we may have to do it over and over. Peter asked if it was enough to forgive someone seven times. Jesus replied with a big, fat, "No!" In fact, Jesus said we have to keep on forgiving them hundreds of times. He could have well said a billion times. The point is a Christ-follower must forgive others, because he or she has been forgiven. Since God is a perfect, holy God who forgives us all the times we mess up, then we need to forgive those who hurt us. © 2008 NotReligion __________________

10-05-2008, 04:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
TooMuch4TooLong Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 163	Great post. I need to learn to forgive myself and forgive him. Thanx CMC. __________________ Sorry is a game and I am tired of playing. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence because that is where the dog poops. Let that pony run-Pam

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