A pastor share a chilling illustration about a man in France who was bitten by a rabid dog, years before a treatment had been discovered for rabies. When it was determined the dog was indeed rabid, a kind doctor told the man he had only a short time to live. Upon hearing this distressing news, the unfortunate man asked the doctor for some paper and a pencil and then commenced writing furiously.
After a few minutes, the doctor interrupted. “If you are writing out your will, you have time. Think carefully about your estate; you still have a few days.”
The patient replied sharply, “I’m not making out my will. I AM MAKING A LIST OF ALL THE PEOPLE I’M GOING TO BITE BEFORE I DIE!”
BITTERNESS. Some people are controlled by it. They have been treated cruelly and wish bad things would happen to those who have offended them. Some brood for years, tormented by memories of the wounds they received. Sometimes they are so angry that they make sure something bad does happen. But the Bible says that this is THE VERY WORST POSSIBLE “SOLUTION” TO RESOLVE THE HURT IN OUR LIVES.
The real solution to dealing with injustice from others is not vengeance, unchecked anger, or bitter brooding. IT’S FORGIVENESS. If you want to experience an abundant life in Jesus, you must learn how to forgive those who have hurt you. The Bible says, “The devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:12). Satan is the source of deep-seated resentment, anger, and vengence—and HE IS THE INSTIGATOR OF OUR THOUGHTS OF REVENGE.
SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN
Jesus’ parable about forgiveness is one of the most essential Bible stories for our time. Peter asked his Savior, “How often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21).
You might think Peter was a bit stingy with his mercy. Forgive someone only seven times? We often have to forgive our spouses that much in a single week! But in the time of Christ, religious leaders taught that God was willing to forgive you only three times. It was “THREE STRIKES AND YOU’RE OUT”—LONG BEFORE BASEBALL WAS INVENTED.
Peter, knowing Jesus was indeed merciful, bravely doubled the number of times he had been taught to forgive someone and even added one for good measure. But Christ’s response shocked not only His disciple, but—tragically—shocks most professed Christians today. “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).
Now, most Bible scholars agree that Jesus wasn’t setting a literal limit. God isn’t sitting up in heaven checking off the number of times He has forgiven you; otherwise, all of us would have already exhausted our quota. God’s mercy doesn’t run out at 490 allotments of grace. AS LONG AS WE ARE WILLING TO REPENT, THE LORD WILL FORGIVE.
The issue is that God asks the same of His people. Don’t keep track of how many times you’ve forgiven your friend, co-worker, or spouse for his or her unkind words or actions. God claims—and has proven time and again in your life and mine—that “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6)
The Lord does not quickly give up on us. Seven times Jesus cast devils out of Mary. Solomon said, “A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again” (Proverbs 24:16). The Gospel of Luke adds, “If your brother sins against you … seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” (Luke 17:3, 4).
Forgive someone today, let that be our goal!
Be blessed… Bill Stockham