Today’s reading is Matthew 18:21-22.
“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Peter thought he was being generous. Seven times? That’s mercy with muscle. But Jesus didn’t blink. “Try seventy-seven.” That’s not math. That’s grace.
Forgiveness isn’t easy. It’s not natural. It’s not quick. If you’ve ever been wounded, you know that some hurts don’t vanish. They linger like shadows at sunset. So how do we forgive that much?
First: Realize that forgiveness takes time.
There’s no verse that erases memory. Wounds heal, but slowly. Scars don’t disappear; they just fade with time.
Second: Know that you don’t forget; you choose not to remember.
Even God, in His omniscience, doesn’t forget like we do when we misplace our keys. He chooses not to recall. He said, “I will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). That’s divine restraint.
I once helped a family move. I took a picture off the wall and found a hole behind it. The wife whispered, “That’s where my husband knocked me into the wall. I just put a picture over it.”
Forgiveness is like that. You don’t pretend the hole isn’t there. You just choose not to stare at it anymore.
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.
Hi brother! I often tell people what you said in one of your sermons. You have to forgive, but doesn’t mean you’re going to call that person to go fishing.
I miss you and your wisdom. I still try to recall your messages!
Hope you’re doing well!!
Hi brother! I often tell people what you said in one of your sermons. You have to forgive, but doesn’t mean you’re going to call that person to go fishing.
I miss you and your wisdom. I still try to recall your messages!
Hope you’re doing well!!