Today, Jesus teaches us many things about forgiveness:
1) Forgiveness pertains only to sins. We forgive sins; we overlook faults, shortcomings, and weaknesses (Sir 28:7; Prv 19:11).
2) By God's grace, we must forgive 70 x 7, that is, indefinitely (Mt 18:22).
3) God's kingdom is "like" forgiveness (Mt 18:23). Forgiving is essential in God's plan.
4) The debt of our sins is very great (see Mt 18:24). God's forgiving us of this debt should lead us to forgive others (Mt 18:33).
5) When we are not forgiving, we make our lives slavery, a prison, and torture (Mt 18:25, 30, 34).
6) Forgiveness can be feigned. Fake forgiveness is expressed only in externals. We must forgive from our hearts (Mt 18:35).
Right now, by the Lord's grace, make the decision to forgive everyone for every sin committed against you. Forgive by God's standards.
| PRAYER: | "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). |
| PROMISE: | "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord, your God." –Jos 3:9 |
| PRAISE: | Melissa and her father reconciled after being estranged for several decades. She forgave him for his abusive outbursts of anger and violence, and he apologized for his hurtful actions. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College