Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
–Matthew 18:21-22 NIV
In life, God gives you plenty of opportunities to practice forgiveness but nobody would call forgiveness easy. It’s easy to look at someone and say, “They should know better,” but thinking this way takes you down a path of judgment rather than one of forgiveness.
What if God used your act of forgiveness to change somebody else? God can’t use you for change if you’re harboring resentment or lacking forgiveness. People change because you correct them in love, are consistent in your actions and expectations, and praise them through their small victories.
Forgiveness doesn’t have to be about forgetting. It’s about choosing to love people despite their flaws. It’s about loving the unlovable, reaching the unreachable, and offering grace to those who need it most. God will use forgiveness to change you and change others.
Prayer Focus
- Thank God for sending His Son to be the ultimate example and teacher.
- Pray that God would continue to send people into your life who will help mold you to be more like Him.
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