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Freely You Have Received, Freely Give

Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven - Matthew 18:21-22

I don’t know about you, but I am glad that God does not put a limit on how many times He will forgive us. Regardless of how many times we fall short, He continues to demonstrate His love for us by forgiving us and welcoming us back time and time again.

But isn’t it amazing how we are willing to keep receiving forgiveness from God, yet how little we want to give forgiveness to others? We freely accept mercy, yet it is surprising how rigid, legalistic, and merciless we can be toward others.

The bottom line is this: As people who have been forgiven much, it is important we learn to share that same forgiveness with others. We can’t live in close relationship with God while we harbor bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness toward another person. These are chains that will keep us spiritually bound up and far from God’s best in our lives.

If there are people who have hurt you and you are finding it difficult to forgive them, just remember all the things God has forgiven you for. When you look at it that way, forgiveness becomes something much easier to give to others.

God’s grace helps us do things easily that would otherwise be hard.

From the book Closer to God Each Day by Joyce Meyer.