Forgive as you have been forgiven. Ouch!

Forgiveness, a word that flows from our mouths, but not our hearts. To many people hold on to anger and hurt like weapons to wage war, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, family, friends we are all guilty of hurting someone, and likewise being hurt. But grudges, vengeance, wanting to punish someone those are not fruits of the Spirit,rather they are tokens of our flesh.

Jesus looked upon those who days before had adored Him, and now they mocked Him, beat Him, spit on Him and cursed Him and He said "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" Jesus set the bar for forgiveness, the scriptures tell us " while we were yet enemies, Christ died for us".

If Jesus did this for us, forgave us of our sins, and atrocities we committed against Him, then how can we begrudge anyone and hold unforgiveness in our hearts. Jesus told Peter the answer to Christ like living, and then He demonstrated to Peter forgiveness first hand after He rose from the grave.  As always God's word holds the key to living an abundant life.

Matthew 18:21-35 HCSB

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times? ” “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven.  

For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents    was brought before him. Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.  “At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything! ’ Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe! ’ “At this, his fellow slave fell down    and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he wasn’t willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.

“Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you? ’  

And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his    heart.”