SCRIPTURE: Luke 17:3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
OBSERVATION: Jesus is not speaking here to the one sinning, but to the one being sinned against! Repentance is important, but He is not speaking about repentance here; He is speaking about the importance of forgiving! Forgiveness allows the hurt to move into the past and heal. Not forgiving keeps the hurt current and unable to heal.
Forgiveness is vital for maintaining relationships. People who hold grudges and will not forgive are always in danger of losing friends.
APPLICATION: If I am talking big numbers, it is not how many times I have to forgive my brother, but how many times my Lord has already forgiven me! I could never out-forgive the LORD! But I depend on the presence of the Holy Spirit to help me forgive others.
PRAYER: Lord, you indeed are The Great Expert on forgiveness! I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit who was with you is also always with me. Amen.
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!
On Facebook: Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on: https://soapsbyleon.com
