Faith to Forgive Someone Who Hurt you : Part I

Scripture Reference: Luke 17:1-10; Matthew 18:21-35

Unforgiveness might be one of the top sins that will lead most Christians to hell. I know it sounds brutal but that’s because it’s one of the hardest things to do without the help of the Holy Spirit. People don’t look at whether you’re a newborn Christian or a preacher if they want to hurt you and letting go of some of those hurts are easier than others, no matter who you are.

Woman crying at the window with raindrops on it.

Jesus warned us that offenses will come. In fact, He says it’s “impossible” to avoid offenses! He then goes on to tell us how to deal with it. He assures us that the one who causes the offense will be severely punished because offense becomes a stumbling block; something that prevents others from moving along in their faith walk or causes them to fall (Luke 17:1-2).

He tells the disciples however that they must forgive. To forgive means to release. When you forgive, you release a person from the judgement that they deserve from the offense that they committed. Jesus basically tells us “don’t hold it against them”. Release them from whatever punishment you think they deserve.

The truth of the matter is, some things are easier to forgive than others. I can easily forgive someone who steals my Chipotle from the office fridge (which really did happen), but I won’t be as quick to forgive abuse or betrayal from someone I trusted. Yet, Jesus says we must forgive them seventy-seven times seven!

If you’re anything like me, I would think that a person’s apology is not genuine if you hurt me just 3 times in a row, let alone 7 times in one day! I will start making excuses as to why you don’t deserve my forgiveness: “you obviously don’t care about hurting me if you’ve done it twice in a row”; “your apologies are not sincere”; “you’re taking advantage of me.” Yet, Jesus doesn’t tell us to only forgive the small offenses or to look at the person’s sincerity when they apologize. He just says we have to forgive no matter what.

This lesson was so hard to swallow that the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith! I’m sure Peter started thinking “OK Jesus, I was with you until this forgiveness thing. Now you are pushing it. I’m going to need a little extra faith to believe you this time.” Don’t forget, this was the same Peter who cut off the ear of the Roman soldier when they came to arrest Jesus, so patience was obviously not one of his virtues.

Jesus had taught them many lessons but in none of them do they ask for their faith to be increased. I started wondering why faith? What does faith have to do with forgiveness? Why not love? I would think it would be easier to forgive if you have love.

Then I understood that forgiveness is a supernatural thing. There’s nothing about our human nature that wants to forgive someone who wounds us. In fact, our first instinct is to punch back, better yet, just kill them. Even the saints who are a little more docile have a limit and once you cross that line, God help you.

Forgiveness does not come naturally to our sinful nature because it’s divine. God is the One who first showed us what it means to forgive so we know it’s not a natural concept to the fallen man. So, if the idea of forgiveness is not from this realm, we need the only vehicle that connects and gives us access to the supernatural and the things of God: FAITH!

LOOK OUT FOR PART 2!

#Hurt #Forgiveness #Faith #Unforgiveness #Jesus