The Enemy of Forgiveness [Friday, #300]

Have you been wronged so severely that you just can’t forgive?  Betrayal is one of the deepest and longest lasting pains we can experience.  What makes it even more agonizing is that betrayal comes from someone we trust.  A spouse, boss, friend, sibling, parent or business partner, to name a few. As I bring this up, you might be feeling pain in your gut right now. That person comes to mind. Yes, it’s terribly painful. You’ve been carrying this hurt for a long time. Then the anger, thoughts of revenge, bitterness, resentment or hatred creeps into our soul and lives there.  Today, we'll consider what Jesus had to say about this touchy topic. KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 18:23-35 (NIV) “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” RESOURCES: Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org. Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.  Connect with Jon at [email protected]