Matthew 18:21-22, 35 – “Then Peter came and said to Him, “LORD, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?”  22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but seventy times seven…35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother FROM YOUR HEARTS.”  LSB

Forgiveness is an absolute requirement in Christianity.  We must be forgiven, and we must forgive!  Jesus revealed the depth of true forgiveness and the only forgiveness that God recognizes – FROM THE HEART!

In what we call the Lord’s prayer, some translations refer to it as debt.   Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.  When we are wronged, it creates a debt mentally – they owe me.  I want to share something that I believe will resonate and prove valuable.

I know of a woman whose granddaughter had been murdered, and the murderer was not captured for a long time.   She had deep bitterness, hate, and unforgiveness.   Before he was caught, she had forgiven and released him.  She had a measure of release and freedom.   But the pastor knew the release was not total. 

The pastor asked her what else was bothering her.  She revealed that an uncle had raped her as a child.  She held deep bitterness and said, “He owes me.”  The bitterness in her heart changed her countenance.  The pastor asked where he was now, and she said that he was dead. 

The pastor asked what cemetery he was in.  She asked why.   He said I have a shovel, and we will dig him up and let you drag around his bones and slap his skull to get some satisfaction.   She laughed and said, “What good would that do?”  The pastor said – exactly!   You have to forgive and release.   She did and got totally free, and joy overflowed in her infectiously until the day she died.

Unforgiveness blocks forgiveness, and forgiveness brings total release.   Forgiveness must be from the heart. If the debtor asks for forgiveness, we must forgive. If they do it again, we forgive again. We receive healing and release even if they do not.

God considers it so necessary that He made it a requirement to receive His forgiveness.  I am not suggesting that we can earn God’s mercy, but we can resist, refuse, rebel, and block forgiveness for ourselves.

Do you want total peace?  We all need forgiveness to determine in our hearts that we will Always Forgive from the Heart!  We want peace and release; this is the only way to obtain it.

We must not let the devil gain an advantage over us. One way he does this is through unforgiveness and unresolved offenses.

You can be Free, but to be Free, you must set others Free!   Let Jesus guide you today, and you will find the pathway to freedom!