Forgiveness

He said to his disciples, “Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard…

If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”…

when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’” (1-4, 10)

Lord, I don’t want to be a person that causes your children to stumble. Guard my words. Guard my actions. Help me to be a person that builds up, not tears down. Forgive me for the times I have failed.

And Lord, when people offend me, help me to forgive.

You have forgiven me far more than seven times. As a servant who has been forgiven many times, isn’t it then my duty to forgive those who have hurt me.

And yet, that’s not always easy. Especially when my hurt is as deeply rooted as the roots of a mulberry tree.

But you said I don’t need this great faith to be able to forgive. Even my little faith is enough, because you are a great God.

Let me always have a heart of gratitude for all you’ve done for me. For all the forgiveness you’ve shown me. For cleansing me of my sin as you cleansed the ten men of their leprosy.

Let me never take that for granted. And as that gratitude deepens, let me learn to forgive.

In your name I pray, amen.