Learning to forgive
By Reverend Malcolm J. Anderson, of Blantyre Congregational Church
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? (Matthew 18:21.)
When the disciple Peter asked Jesus the above question, I’m certain Peter, wasn’t expecting the answer he received, I wonder are you? Jesus as He often did, simplified His answer by sharing a parable or a story, such as The Unmerciful Servant, to teach a Kingdom lesson on forgiveness and much to Peter’s surprise, the inexhaustible number of times we are challenged to forgive. Peter said in response to his question“seven times!”yet Jesus retorted by saying “no, seventy times seven!”
“To forgive is divine, but to err is human.”
As humans we find forgiving someone who has transgressed against us difficult, challenging and in some cases, downright nigh impossible.
For when we have been hurt, betrayed or humiliated by a friend, the last attribute we want to extend is forgiveness. Rather than extending a measure of forgiveness, we begin to contemplate retaliation and retribution to satisfy our thirst for revenge.
Yet when we reflect upon our own unscrupulous stained lives, those copious occasions when we have fallen short of God’s standard, those times when we have knowingly sinned, hurt and offended a Holy and Just God, we humbly turn to a forgiving God and ask for that second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance…
Perhaps there is someone in your life, in your Lodge Room, you find difficult to forgive for a past offence or hurt caused, however, just like you and I, he or she too, requires that second chance.“lord how many times should I forgive?”
I wonder like Peter, can you learn to forgive, the way Jesus has taught?