Forgiveness is worth bringing up often, because it seems there isn’t a
shortage of things to forgive. Peter was concerned about this: “Lord,
how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to
seven times?” And we all know the answer “Jesus said to him, “I do
not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”
Matt 18:21-22
Sometimes we just deny that we have anything against anyone else.
We’re cool, we assert to ourselves, maybe even loudly to others, and
nothing anyone does can affect us. Except that’s not true in many
cases. We’re a bit fragile, or maybe demanding, or just needy, and all
these little or big things that others do and fail to do sometimes get
to us.
After a while, you might notice you have quite a load of frustrations
built up with your brother or sister or neighbor, or maybe them all. “If
only I could get away from it all” you might think, maybe new friends,
or city or church will do. But unless you choose complete solitude,
you’ll need to face people and practice forgives wherever you go.
So let’s start now, at this prayer service. Think of what you’ve been
bothered by recently. Frustrated, angry, or hurt. There might have
been a good reason too. We’re all people in need of improvement,
and sometimes intentionally or not, offend others.
Realizing that we need forgiveness too, makes it easier to forgive.
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
(Matt 6:12) – Jesus taught us to pray.
Now bring the offender and offense to God, and let him deal with it.
Carrying around old hurts just isn’t worth the pain. So let it go.
Liya Abramova
