When somebody hurts or offends me, the last thing I want to do is let them off the hook. It especially is frustrating when they seemingly "get away with it," with no consequences or pain. It hurts! Sometimes it leaves scars, large scars.
Over the years, I've heard some pretty painful stories. It's hard for me to look at a young girl who has been abused, molested and left out in the cold and say you need to forgive.
It's rough. We don't want to let it go; we want the other person to hurt as badly as we hurt.
That is probably why I really like this Bible story so much. It's such a GREAT reminder of God's love and forgiveness and why we should love and forgive. In Matthew 18:21-35, Peter goes to Jesus and asks him "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."
Then Jesus goes on and explains through a story.
"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
So we see God, Who looked down on us and saw that were in debt, a debt that we could NEVER pay back. If we worked our entire life we would never pay it back. Yet, He loved us so much that He didn't just wipe our debt clean, He used His own blood and His own pain and His own hurt to pay for it. Even though we were the ones who turned our back on Him.
So now, what that person has done to you...
It's WRONG!
It's HURTS!
It should NEVER have happened!
...but you CAN forgive. Not, because that person was sorry or asked your forgiveness. No, you can forgive them, by keeping your eyes on the cross and remembering all the sin that was wiped clean. Jesus died BEFORE you even asked Him. You can forgive before are are asked. Pray to God and ask Him to help you to forgive and move on.
It's not fair, but grace is not fair. If we received all we deserved, we would not get the opportunity to go to Heaven. Praise Jesus for forgiveness. You CAN DO IT, because of HIM. - Rejoicing in the Present
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