Hello
Today’s Holy Nougat touches a very sore subject for many of us; myself included:
“Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:22 NIV
Seventy-seven times is a long time; especially if you’re counting. It is even longer; if, as many biblical scholars suggest, that ought to signify an infinite number of wrongs. It’s not too long if you’re a child who’s still in formation – the wrongs are quickly forgotten (and generally forgiven) – not so simple when we nurse the offense and justify our own innocence and persecution in the way only adults can.
In fact, most of us possess an internal limit, impacted by infraction, setting (was it public or private), degree of vestedness (in the pre-infraction) and relationship with the offender. So we might find an action offensive and unforgivable in one instance; but we overlook it in another. It is only natural.
But we’re called, in Christ, to be Super-natural. More than our normal selves. Furthermore, we are asked to do for others what we would DESIRE for ourselves; not as is done by other humans to us. And, I believe that most of us would prefer the forgiveness infinitum package when we have done another wrong. It is what we receive from Jesus – freely given PRIOR to us repenting! Now that’s awesomeness!
Of course, our own attitude of unforgiveness may block our access to God’s grace, but that’s a choice we make. To our detriment. The good news is we can break out of that prison whenever we choose. We only have to ask God for help. It’s that simple/hard.
So, do we have some hurts creating lingering wounds on the inside? Let’s pause and double check; perhaps even begin to probe why. Now let’s hand each one over to Christ – seventy-seven times if we have to. We don’t want that kind of stuff lingering in our hearts
Grace and peace
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
