TREM Daily Devotional 10 November 2021 | By Dr. Mike Okonkwo
Topic: Forgive Unconditionally
Scripture: “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:22 KJV
Message: As you go along in the journey of life, people will hurt you, but you must learn to put the hurts under the blood and forgive unconditionally. You must forgive so that your Father in Heaven will also forgive you. If you do not forgive those who hurt you, it will become a hindrance to you.
In further considering the issue of forgiveness, Peter, who probably had several bitter experiences, asked Jesus for clarifications saying: “…Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” (Matthew 18:21 KJV). Think of it! If someone hurts you deeply seven times, how would you handle it? Peter reasoned that it is enough to refuse to deal with the person again. But then Jesus shocked him by saying not seven times but seventy times seven. Do you know what that means? 490 per person! How do you count a person’s error to get 490? of course it is impossible! So, Jesus is saying in effect, just keep forgiving.
Are you so deeply hurt and you are saying “Bishop Mike, you don’t understand, what the person did is so bad that even God can understand.” Yes, but in spite of all you have done, Jesus died for you. Do you deserve such a huge price? Of course not! You know you don’t deserve it, yet He died for you. If God can do that for you, why then will you not forgive someone who has done much less? Even after you gave your life to Christ, you still had committed certain sins that you are so ashamed of. Yet, Jesus, with open arms, received and forgave you. So, how can you consider any sin too big to forgive?
When you refuse to forgive, you hold yourself down because God says He won’t forgive you either. So, let go today. If need be, call the person up and pray for the person. Yes, cry if need be, but forgive.
Further Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Jeremiah 48-49; Evening- Hebrews 7
TREM Daily Devotional 10 November 2021 was written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.