[Discoveries] 05-20-08 Forgiveness -- Matthew 18:21

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I 
forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" -- 
Matthew 18:21*/

Peter is speaking from the viewpoint that most of us share: forgiving 
someone benefits the offender, but taxes the offended.

The truth is quite different. Forgiving an offense empowers the 
offended. It is to a man's glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs) 
Forgiving frees us from the kind of bitterness that saps away our energy 
and turns our whole world a muddy gray.

Yes, forgiving benefits the offender, but only because it forces the 
offender to deal directly with God. No longer are you and I standing 
between God and the offender. Now God can deal with that person and use 
all of His ingenuity to turn that life around.

One more thing. Forgiveness is not stupidity. Forgiveness is not opening 
the door to further abuse or mistreatment. Forgiveness does not remove 
boundaries. Forgiveness is not an upside down way of condoning sin. 
Instead, forgiveness is a gift from God to us.

Be encouraged!
Dwight

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