I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness. I can see how easy it is to breed bitterness and discontent if I don’t take care to apply my heart to forgive. I don’t have anything particularly horrible that has been done to me and yet forgiveness still does not come easily. What I mean is that the things I often get “hung up” on are not even that big of a deal in the scope of things. The other day I had a situation when someone was rude to me. I was getting into my car after getting some things at the store, when I noticed a note on my windshield. The driver of the car next to me was angry that I had parked too close to their car, though I was inside my lines. The note stated in rather offensive language that I had been inconsiderate to a woman who was nine months pregnant and called me a few choice names at the end. I could have been pretty bitter about this.

In this situation people might understand if I felt upset, but what would a godly response be ? This seems like a very small trifle to overcome, but my response reflects how I would handle bigger obstacles and I’m not sure I would do too well. We can’t look at things from a human perspective because as believers God requires that we be like Christ in our response. So even though my feelings might be understandable they do not justify holding a grudge, getting back or having an angry response. In fact any response other than forgiveness and grace would not be acceptable.

We are all familiar with Matthew 18:21-22 where Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother if he sins against him. Tradition said that seven times was enough and then the wronged was no longer obligated to forgive the offender. But Jesus gives Peter a staggering response–

Then the servant went out and found one of his friends who owed him a very small amount in comparison to his own debt. The friend could not pay his debt so the servant had him thrown into jail. The master heard of the servant’s dealing and was angry with him because though his great debt had been forgiven, he could not have compassion on the friend who owed a small amount. Then it says that the master gave the servant over to torturers until he paid all he owed. The jarring part to this story is in verse 35–