THE FREEDOM OF FORGIVENESS
Matthew 18:21-22
“The Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’ ”
Peter’s question about forgiveness was in the context of offenses (vs. 7), how to deal with them (vss. 15-17), and binding or loosing them in heaven and on earth (vs. 18). The fact is that unforgiveness is a terrible bondage. I too often drag around the chains of unforgiven offenses that bind my spirit. The only way to loose the chains of offenses against me and be free in my spirit is to release them through forgiveness. When offenses are forgiven, they are loosed on earth and they are also loosed in heaven. When I don’t forgive, they are bound both on earth and in heaven. There is freedom in unlimited forgiveness. If I only forgive seven times, I will still be in bondage on the eighth offense. But by 490 times (70 x 7), I am truly free. Freedom in my spirit is dependent on how forgiving I am. This is especially true in marriage, because offenses pile up through the years if not continually forgiven. When I bring up past offenses, I show that I have not truly forgiven. Long-term relationships demand unlimited forgiveness. Forgiveness not only releases me but it also releases the other person. Oh, God, help me to have a forgiving spirit so that I can be free in my spirit.
TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Unlimited forgiveness brings freedom to both the offended and the offender.
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Have a forgiving day. Love you.
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