January Devotional

Forgiven To Forgive

By Pastor Lew Pizzala

“Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” Matt. 18:21,22

 Two of the greatest needs of a child of God is to be forgiven and to forgive others. The one flows out of the other.  Your ability to forgive others is due to the fact that you have been forgiven.  Somebody once said: “God has a big eraser.”  The question is: “how big is yours?”  One of the reasons why we have a struggle forgiving others is because we often insist on having the last word.  We have to win.  Having the last word is important to our flesh.  Have you ever considered that:  “an apology is a good way to have the last word?”  Forgiveness is giving up the right to hurt someone because they hurt you.  Why should I forgive someone?  Because I have been forgiven.  Your sin against God will always be greater than somebody else’s sin against you.  If God has forgiven you, go and do likewise.  When you fail to forgive someone you carry that burden with you like a dead weight, when all along you could have released them through the avenue of forgiveness.

Prayer: “Thank you for forgiveness.  May I show my gratitude for forgiveness by forgiving those who have wronged me.”