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Forgive AlwaysThen came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:21 AND 22
Peter raised an important question here: how many times should we forgive our brothers, neighbours? And the answer is clear from this passage of scripture that we must forgive always. No need to keep record of all the wrong that people do to us, to see when they reach seventy times seven. Forgive always. When Stephan was being stoned, he prayed that God would forgive his killers for the sin of killing him (Acts 6: 70). What can be worse than that? Jesus did the same at the cross (Luke 23: 34). Jesus wants us to forgive the way he did. It is important that we obey every detail of the word of God. Forgiving people who ‘trespass against us’ (Mathew 6: 12) frees us of the burden of grudges. It gives you freedom. It gives you peace. Forgive and keep the peace and freedom that Jesus has given you I will not lie and say this is easy, on your own it is very difficult. Jesus said that without me you can do nothing (John 15: 4). This is true. In fact you can’t do much of the will of God without him. That is the reason Jesus said about the rich young man that it is impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of God (Mathew 19: 23), but with God everything is possible. I don’t want to even try Christian living without the Lord helping me, in fact that would be man’s attempt to reach God. Through Christ, God has reached us and given us the way to reach him. We have the Holy Spirit to help us. He is our helper. Call on him when you find it difficult to forgive. He is available to help you.
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