Matthew 18:21-23 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven. For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.”
Life is simple but we like to make it hard, painful, and many times just ugly with an unforgiving spirit and grudges. When we stop defining our lives by how we've been hurt and start allowing God to define who we are in His grace, things will start to change. You might even find compassion, love, and understanding; you know--that thing Christ gave to you called Grace!
We all have been hurt by the actions or words of another. Maybe your mother criticized you, a coworker sabotaged a project, or your spouse had an affair. These wounds can leave you with a lifelong feeling of anger, bitterness, or even desires of settling the score — but if we don't practice The 70 x 7 Principle, we might be the one who pays for it the most. By embracing forgiveness, we can also embrace peace, hope, and love.
We must understand what forgiveness looks like before we can totally step into it. Usually, forgiveness is a decision to let go of anger and thoughts of revenge. The act that hurt you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can reduce the grip it has on you and help you focus on the positive parts of your life. Forgiveness can even lead to feelings of understanding and compassion for the one who hurt you. The benefits of forgiving and letting go of grudges can make way for compassion, kindness, and peace. Living in the spirit of forgiveness can lead to:
- Healthier relationships
- Greater spiritual oneness
- Less anxiety and stress
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower the chance of depression
- Lower risk of substance abuse
Forgiveness doesn't mean that you deny the other person's responsibility for hurting you or justify the wrong done to you. You can forgive the person without excusing the act. The 70 x 7 Principle brings a kind of peace or as I like to say “lets the offender stop living in your head rent free,” and allowing you to go on with life. It is a choice to live with bitterness or to live in a way that shows you have found a better way of living.
Live Life Large 4 Christ,
Pastor Frank Lott
