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Spiritual Retaliation
Rod ShimabukuroThen Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” [22]Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus is wrapping up HIs instructions to the disciples on how to handle relational disputes when someone sins against another. Peter now asks Jesus how often do we forgive someone who sins against me? This question stops me in my tracks to think a little more deeply. How often should I forgive someone who sins, is a different question when you add… How often do we forgive when a person sins against me?
Being personally attacked, sinned against repetitively is beyond draining. My reactions are less than spiritual when repetitious sins, especially when impure motives, evil intent are in play. I want to attack to hurt when someone repeatedly hurts me. The power to forgive has to - I mean has to come from knowing Jesus personally and drawing from His spiritual strength. For me, it’s not merely a choice to choose to forgive a person for repeated sin against me 490 times over. I need God’s intervention, His revelation, grace and strength to forgive like this.
So Lord Jesus…. help me to retaliate with Your grace, love, strength to forgive! When I hate - please love through me. Help no to do anything stupid that would cost me or others - to lose my witness of who You are - through me. I want to represent You, Your words and life well. So…. Please - Please - Please…. help me to Love and forgive 70 times 7.
