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.
Precious message, & so liberating! What cannot LOVE do?
Oh boy, do I really need this reminder today! Since the weekend I’ve been out of sorts because of an unpleasant exchange. This SV is getting me back on track and I am so grateful!
Beautifully said! Thanks!
“How can we forgive?” By Nancy Farmer-Martin. From the May 13, 2014 issue of The Christian Science Monitor:
https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/A-Christian-Science-Perspective/2014/0513/How-can-we-forgive/?src=shared
Thank you for sharing J and thank you Evan.
Thank you Evan. Thank you for your loving inspiring readings to heal and love one another.
Thank you, Evan. This is a beautiful message and you make it easy to understand for everyone- not just those studying Christian Science. Such a good message to share.
Such an important lesson for all of us, Evan. Thank you for the reminder. When forgiving others, I often try to remember the good qualities that a person has expressed in their lives. Those good qualities often shine through and overwhelm what appeared to be hurtful actions.
To truly love means we don’t have to carry a heavy load of hate. Thank you, Evan.
We’ve always heard that forgiveness is not for the other person…that it’s for us. And you explain why that is. That 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.
Thank you for this explanation and beautiful reminder to forgive. ❣️
So helpful, Evan, Thank you. Sometimes it seems very very difficult to keep forgiving
when someone continues to do things that are very hurtful to themselves and us and
it can seem exhausting to keep forgiving – knowing that they know better. To turn it
around that it is in our thinking, where the continued focus seems to be on glorifying
matter – the material senses, is sometimes a challenge. The thought of seventy times
seven, has occurred but it is not always easy to be so Jesus-like, when trying to
overcome what appears to be material, rather than spiritual issues and inharmony
seems to keep occurring. Forgiveness is always given, over and over, but it is not
always easy, so thank you for the reminder.
I can forgive and let go but can I also not want to keep future company with said individuals?
You make a good point here md. I was thinking similarly. If there are certain people that seem to continue to do harm I believe we can forgive them and bless them and pray to see them as God sees them, and do all this “from afar.” We don’t have to continue to subject ourselves to something unhealthy. I have done this with some family members. The Truth is we can come to the understanding that we can’t actually be harmed and they cannot truly be causing harm because God is protecting and taking care of all His children at all times. We are all safe and well in His care. The rest is a mortal story that we can see through. Not easy or necessarily quick, but God helps us let go if we ask Him. .
Thank you, evan and thank you, Rose. I have a family member who continues over the years to say unkind things. It’s not always easy but a continuing lesson for me to forgive
Same here. My entire family have done this. It’s broken my heart and for many, many years I believed the things they said about me. It’s still difficult for me to think that God loves me.
md, your comment made me think of Jesus telling the disciples to “shake the dust off your feet”. (Matt. 10:14 & Luke 9:5).
Forgiving isn’t giving in.
It’s not about the other guy.
The sin is you believing sin
and judging based upon a lie.
Forgiving, then, is cleansing thought,
to love your neighbor, not despise,
to love instead of criticize.
Let God be judge of all he wrought,
and be not wise in thine own eyes.
Very nice and wise poem Carol, thank you for sharing it. Comforting. We leave others in God’s care and try to see things as He sees them. And we can, as there is only One divine Mind that we all share.
Thank you, Evan!!! and everyone who shared. Forgiveness is my error and hindering my true and permanent healings. I am.so blessed to have returned to Christian Science.
Grateful. Thank you, Evan.
Thank you Evan! My stomach ache is feeling better already! : )
Thank you Evan.