June 10

Matthew 18:21–22 (NIV)
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. It is a bitter pill that will infect other relationships in your life, even between you and God. There is another relationship that it will affect as well, and that is the one you have with yourself. Unforgiveness turns into bitterness which is a root that will “defile many”. Jesus tells us to “forgive” infinitely. It’s like having a Teflon offense shield! But what does forgiveness mean?

The number one meaning in the New Testament is to “let go” or “send away”. Other meanings of the word (aphiemi – translated forgiveness), are to release from legal or moral consequence, to pardon, to move away with the idea of separation, to divorce, to leave… Are you getting the idea? We are to divorce the offense from our lives and release the person from consequence. You might be saying, hey, that’s not fair and that’s too hard! It doesn’t matter how we think or feel about it. Is that too blunt? We have an opportunity to be like Jesus by forgiving people and releasing them from our little prison cell and to restore them to rightful relationship with us and ACT like we told Jesus we wanted to act, like Him.

Some will worry that we will be taken advantage of and hurt again and again. That will happen from time to time, but it will happen at our decision. We are nobody’s victim and we are not to let people victimize us. Releasing someone’s guilt does not mean we need to let them abuse us – far from it. Jesus was never victimized by anybody and neither should we be.

This is not too tough because we have Jesus living in us – His Spirit – the Spirit of forgiveness is living in us – release Him and release those who have sinned against you! Not only will they be free, but you will be free.