Some family feuds have gone on for generations. Both sides have a hatred for one another that can’t even be explained. When you delve down to the root of the issue, you find the initial reason for the feud was petty, but it snowballed from there and turned into a war. If forgiveness would’ve been given from the start, it would be a different world. Don’t hold the offense against someone. Instead, choose to forgive.
Luke 17:3-4
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Forgiveness Settles It
This passage isn’t about rebuking someone for sinning against you but about forgiveness. If he repents when you rebuke him, then you are to forgive. If he does it seven times for the same offense in one day and still repents, your forgiveness doesn’t change. It’s not about keeping score. It’s about but about settling the issue between you two, and forgiveness settles it.
Peace over Bitterness
I think we can all agree there is a lot of rebuking and a lot of repenting but not a lot of forgiving. We want to call out people for what they do wrong and make a public spectacle of them. We even want to call out previous generations for things they said or did years ago, but we don’t want to forgive them. At the same time, people are quick to apologize, but they don’t really mean it. This is why there is a lot of anger and resentment in the world.
Choose to Forgive
The key to peace is the ability to forgive others. Pent up frustration steals our peace and joy. Forgiveness lets it go. Stop keeping tabs on what people have done to you. It will only drive you crazy. Instead, learn how to go the extra mile and choose to forgive people, even if they don’t repent. This will keep you going forward and unhindered by the past.