Are you hesitant to forgive other people for sins they commit against you?  Are you tempted to hold a grudge, voice silent complaints about their behavior, or even get mad at them?  If so, Jesus has a lesson to share.

When Peter asked him how often one should forgive another person who sins against him, wondering if seven was the magical number, Jesus replied, “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven!” (Matt. 18:21-22, NLT).  That’s 490 times!  But honestly, the absolute number is not significant.  It’s a metaphor for an unlimited number of times.  In other words, we should never tire of forgiving.  We should be happy to keep doing it forever!

How can this be?

It’s possible because forgiveness is not about the other person.  It’s about what we are holding in thought.  If we are holding hate, anger, resentment, we are harming ourselves.  We are harboring destructive ways of thinking that lead to misery, suffering, and disease.  They are the pathway to death.  They are not friends, but enemies to success in life.  

The wiser way to live is with love.  Love should overflow in our heart in all our relations with other people.  

Love is what reforms sinful thoughts and actions.  Love is what makes everything better for everyone.

Forgiveness is often the pathway to feeling and knowing Love at work in our life.  

Forgiveness heals.  It takes our anguish away.  It helps others feel the touch of Love.  

Forgiveness is good.  It’s an act we should never tire of doing.