FORGIVENESS

"How long shall my brother ask forgiveness of me and I forgive him? Seventy times seven?"

This was the question Peter had asked of Christ, because according to their custom forgiveness was only given three times. Christ went on to tell Peter forgiveness has no limit, his words were "Not seven but seventy times seven." Making Peter understand that forgiveness has no limits.

How about you? Are you struggling with the same question of forgiveness? Has someone habitually hurt you, and you have decided this is it! No more forgiveness? 

In the Parable of the unforgiving servant in (Matthew 18:21-35)  we learn true forgiveness. Here great truths are illustrated. May we ask of God His love, so that we can love each other unconditionally.

Let us look at four (4) great truths illustrated. 

1. Here we are taught to be compassionate.(Matthew 18:33)
2. By being unforgiving you are casting away your only hope of forgiveness from God (Matthew 18:15-17)
3. We should treat others just as we ourselves, in like circumstances, would wish to be treated. (Phillipians 2:1-5)
4. Forgive as often as God has forgiven you. (Luke 17:3,4) 

We are not forgiven because we forgive, but as we forgive. The ground of all forgiveness is centred in the great truth of the unmerited love of God. When we are hurt and has the tendency to be unforgiving let us remember "Christ was treated as we deserve, that we may be treated as He deserves.