JdkDE

SATURDAY • MARCH 28Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT)Seventy Times Seven!“Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgivesomeone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesusreplied, ‘but seventy times seven!’”The forgiveness that is freeing must be repeated again and again.When Simon Peter asked, “How often must I forgive my neighbor? Asmany as seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventytimes seven!”The greatest generosity we can give is forgiveness, and the awesomenews is that we each have the resources of a millionaire. Our forgivenessbank account is unlimited, so there is no need to be cheap in our generosity.We know that the more generous we are in such gifts, the larger oursoul becomes, allowing us to operate in freedom.As we go about our day, we can be extremely generous— seventytimes seven— to drivers who cut into our lane, to co-workers or strangersor sales clerks who are rude to us, to friends or family who rain on ourparade by disappointing us, even to those who talk behind our backs orfalsely accuse us.Forgiveness begins at home—with yourself. First, you are forgivenin Christ! Completely forgiven! So, forgive yourself seventy times sevenfor your grievous sins, the sins that continue to hurt. Forgive yourselffor your silly mistakes, your faults, your misled choices and your slightstoward others. Knowing we are forgiven by God in Christ enables us toforgive ourselves. If we are forgiven, then it’s easier to forgive others.Father, we pray that You would give us the courage to forgive those whohave harmed us. We pray that we can forgive even those who have hurtus long ago. Thank You that we can do this because we ourselves are forgivenand You love us so!Rev. Will Main (Sioux)Lawrence, Kansas46