Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21,22
If you and think for a minute, you can probably recall some person that has deeply hurt or offended you. If you've lived a truly charmed life and haven't been hurt like this then perhaps you know of someone else who has been deeply hurt. There is a raw pain to being wronged. Sometimes we might think about getting even. I mean this really hurts and it's not fair because well, you're a good person.
Now that I conjured up your emotions, think for a minute about someone that you have hurt. If you have a hard time thinking of someone you're probably in denial. The very same emotional response that you experienced when you were wronged you caused in someone else's life. Ouch! We all need to get to a place where we recognize our sin even in situations where we were wronged. We sin and it causes real problems for ourselves and others.
From here we can begin to see our own need for forgiveness. First from God. Our sin is an offence against a holy God. And we need others to forgive us. Jesus taught in the Lord's prayer "and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
In marriage, this need to forgive and be forgiven is intensified. I say things, do things, and have ambivalent attitudes that hurt. I have a knack for justifying it all and blaming others. Jesus was an example for us to follow in regards to forgiveness. He said on the cross,"Father forgive them." While he was being crucified. There is no free pass on forgiveness. It is a spiritual thing that we must do. I can not by my own will forgive. I need God's help. I have to ask Him.
How often should you forgive your wife? Jesus says,"until seventy times seven."
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