Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

                                                                                                         Luke 17:3-4 

Today: Read Luke 17

It’s a common trap. Most of us have probably fallen into it at one time or another. Someone sins against us and we hold on to bitterness and a refusal to forgive. It is so common because it plays right into the comfortability of our old nature. Letting go of an offense when the offender was clearly at fault just seems to work against a sense of justice. But when we demand judgment toward the actions of others, we, in turn, call that same judgment on ourselves.

God’s plan for His justice was to place the sins of mankind on Christ at the cross. To forgive means that one is willing to let go of an offense and to give up the right to collect on a debt. When Jesus gave Himself for us, God was effectively merging His love for us with His righteous judgment. In Christ, God chooses to let go of the offenses of mankind and at the same time gives up His right to collect on the debt we owe. Put another way, when we are in Christ, we have truly been set free.

God expects His followers to act in the same fashion in which He acted on our behalf. Today’s passage is an instruction to all believers. If someone sins against us, we are well within our rights to rebuke that individual. To rebuke is to “call someone out.” It is perfectly fine for us to point out to others where they have hurt us and caused damage. However, we must always be ready to forgive. Jesus tells us that to possess godly forgiveness, we must be willing to forgive as many times as is necessary. It is not painfully extracting forgiveness from our person nor is it being stingy in offering mercy. Godliness demands forgiveness freely flowing out of our hearts toward others.

It seems illogical in a “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me” culture. Letting go of offenses even when the offender continues to do so? But that is exactly what Jesus is directing us to do. The world does not forgive this way rather it usually demands restitution for wrongs committed. But for the life of the believer, we surrender our “right” to hold on to anger and bitterness. And when we fail to forgive, we fall into the trap.

An unwillingness to forgive and a bitter spirit only entrap us. It doesn’t affect the life of the offender. In fact, the offender can ask for forgiveness from God and receive it at the point of repentance. What a tragedy it is that while that takes place the offended remain in a state of bitterness and anger. A refusal to forgive only hurts us spiritually and acts as a barrier for experiencing God’s best.

Jesus begins this passage with, “Be on your guard!” Given the context immediately after this declaration, I believe it is reasonable to suggest the Christ was warning against the consequences of refusing to forgive. While we do not want to sin against others (and when we do we should repent), equally as dangerous is being wronged and hanging on to that offense. It happens all of the time, even in the church. I often wonder how much kingdom work is disrupted simply because someone in the church is unwilling to join efforts with someone else due to a past offense. We must guard against such attitudes!

God does not have to forgive us but He chooses to do so. What about you? Are you willing to let go of a debt that someone else owes you? In our youth we often get caught up in holding grudges but with age there should be an increase in wisdom. Ask God to create in you a spirit of freely forgiving! As believers, we can do no less.