Forgiveness

Tonight, my wife and I sat down and watched an episode of The Big Bang Theory on the DVR. As always, it was very funny. Tonight's moral was based on forgiveness. Sheldon ends up sabotaging an FBI interview that ultimately costs Howard his place on a high profile government operation.

Howard was devastated and rightfully angry at Sheldon for the way he was treated. At first, he didn't accept Sheldon's apology. However, through comedic process, the friends were reunited by the time the credits were rolling. I love that show.

We've all wronged someone at some point in our lives. And, we've each been hurt by others. There are no exceptions to this rule in the human race. Not in this age, anyway. What do you do when someone treats you badly? Let's take a peek in the New Testament and see what Jesus says:

Matthew 18:21-33 (New International Version)

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 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.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “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.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’

That's pretty deep. If we want God to forgive us for the mistakes we make, it's imperative that we treat others with a forgiving heart. That's something that hits close to home for me and is often easy to grasp in concept, but difficult to put into practice.

Who do you need to forgive, or seek forgiveness from? What are you waiting for?

Good Night