“Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words and dislike of others should have no place in your lives.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.” Ephesians 4:31-32 TLB

There are many people who really are mean in their talk. They seem to be angry and always blaming someone else. They quarrel, use harsh words, and show their dislike toward others. Bible says these kinds of actions should have no place in our lives if we belong to God. The reason for such actions is because people keep an unforgiving heart toward others. Instead, God’s mandate is you have to be kind to one another, keep a tender heart, forgive one another. The reason is – God has forgiven you, didn’t He? If God forgave you freely numerous mistakes of your life, then you have a  obligation to forgive and be tenderhearted toward others even if they hurt you.

Listen to what Jesus said about the topic of forgiveness and how seriously he sees the issue of unforgiveness. He said, “ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 18:21-22. It tells me something. Forgiveness of your trespasses is conditional. If you forgive other’s wrongdoings, your heavenly Father will forgive yours also. However, if you do not forgive the trespasses of others, your heavenly Father will not forgive your trespasses. It is a pretty heavy answer, don’t you agree?

Beloved, you don’t count the number of forgiveness. One day Peter asked an interesting question. Thank you, Peter, you asked this question because we all needed an answer. He asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?  Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “ I tell you,  not seven times, but seventy times seven.” You see in the Rabbinical circle then had a common consense that you forgive up to three times. Fourth time there is no forgiveness required. Peter after being with Jesus for a while decided to increase the number of times to seven. However, the answer of Jesus raised eyebrows on everybody. Jesus said, I tell not seven times, but seventy times seven. It does not mean 490 times is the upper limit of forgiveness. It simply states you can not place a number when you forgive others for their trespasses.

Now, forgiveness does not mean that you must allow abuse of another person on an ongoing basis. If you would read verses 15-17 of Matthew 18, Jesus says forgiveness doesn’t need to be unqualified. It is good to allow proper guidelines and barriers. However, even at the end of it all, you still can forgive even though you may not forget all the things. Forgive based on what God has done for your life is God’s requirement, even though you might not forget it. You can still forgive from your heart.

Beloved, unforgiveness is a slow killer on many people. They do not understand and appreciate how much God forgave them. Forgiveness is not a new idea from the time of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness was a topic of the triune God even before the foundation of the world before he created our first parents – Adam and Even. He had a plan of forgiveness in place in the person of Jesus Christ, who would come at the fulfillment of the right time to this earth and die and pay for our sins.

It is a big deal that God forgave all your sins and mistakes. It is a big deal that God sent His one and only Son to this world to carry your sin on His body and pay for it on the cross. It is a big deal that He saved you and granted you eternal life with Him in heaven at the moment of your death. Therefore, “stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.” God has forgiven your manifold sins and you belong to Christ because God bought you with the price of the blood of Christ are the motivation you must forgive others.

May I tell you this. Forgiveness makes you stronger. It makes your future more bright. It paves the way for God to step in and help you as we discussed in yesterday’s insight.

“Father in heaven, help me to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving just as You forgave my manifold sins and mistakes and you bought me into heavenly household by the blood of Jesus Christ. I believe You sent Jesus and He died and rose again for my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Make me a new creation with a  new heart because I belong to you. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.”