Forgiveness

We have been hurt by people many times in our lives. Few of them would have apologized, while others never bothered… Do we forgive those people who hurt us even if they do not say sorry? Well it is not easy… We might say “yes we have forgiven”, but we should do a self-check and see what we feel when we remember those people who hurt us. If it is anger or hatred or bitterness, then definitely there is unforgiveness. Un-forgiveness in our heart doesn’t do us any good, in fact it affects us very negatively.

Let us see what the treasure book has to say about forgiveness.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus asked him, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Is it seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times”. He did not mean to keep count each time someone sins against you or hurts you, but to keep on forgiving when they hurt you.

Then he told them a parable to teach the kingdom principle regarding Forgiveness. Parables are simple stories used to explain a moral or spiritual lesson.

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

A king wanted to settle financial records with his servants. There was a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold. (That is too much for a servant to payback. He won’t be able to payback even if he tried all his life.) This servant was brought to the master as he did not pay back and clear his debt. To repay the debt, the king ordered to sell this man, his wife, his children and all he had. The servant fell on his knees before him and begged ‘Be patient with me and I will pay back everything.’ The master took pity on him and let him go, cancelling all the unpaid debt. He would have lost his family and everything he owned. But the king was so merciful that this humongous debt was waved off – he didn’t have to return the 10,000 bags of gold that he borrowed.

When this servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.  He grabbed the servant and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

He did not show this man any mercy. The amount this servant owed was only 100 silver coins which could be repaid. But for this small debt (compared to his own debt – 10,000 bags of gold) the servant did not show any mercy.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant, I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me. Shouldn’t you have shown mercy to your fellow servant just as I did to you?” In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

Jesus told them

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

God forgave our sins and took away from us the horrible punishment we deserve. Hence we should also show mercy and forgive people who have hurt us or have done terribly bad things to us. We should consciously learn to forgive no matter how hard it is, so that we experience God’s mercy and forgiveness in our lives. The hurt that we have faced is like the 100 silver coins compared to the punishment we deserve.

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11: 25-26

Even your prayers won’t be heard if you have an unforgiving heart. Only if we forgive, we will be forgiven.. this is the kingdom principle…

Treasures uncovered

Forgiving others is not easy, however without a forgiving heart we won’t experience our father’s forgiveness. Remembering the undeserved mercy and love we have received from our Lord will help us to have a forgiving and loving heart. If we do not forgive, unforgiveness in our heart leads us into bitterness and eventually to hatred, leading us into sin. So Forgive all those who hurt you!!!

Also make sure to ask forgiveness when you realize you have hurt someone. Remember!!! Only a brave person can ask forgiveness and it takes immense courage to say SORRY!!!

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for teaching us the kingdom principle about forgiveness. We thank you for the undeserving love and mercy you have towards us. Help us to forgive from our heart all those who have hurt us. Help us also to ask forgiveness to all people whom we have hurt. We love you Lord, in Jesus name, AMEN!!!

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