490

Forgiveness is difficult. Sometimes, it's nearly impossible. Have you ever tried forgiving someone that hurt you? It's easier to say than to do.

Despite the all too common "you hurt me, I hurt you" paradigm this world encourages, God says something different. (Isn't this the case with most things, though? The world may be beautiful, but it's quite messed up...)   In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus and his disciples are talking; the disciples are asking questions as all good students should.

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?”

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

{Matthew 18:21-22}

Shoot... seven TIMES seventy?! That seems like a lot.

And while math isn't my strong suit...

 7 x 70 = 490

In case you didn't catch that:

490.

The Bible says we're supposed to forgive up to

490 times a day.

Wait. Wait. Wait. 490 TIMES A DAY?!

That's what He said. We're supposed to forgive a single person up to 490 times a day. Craziness. That's a lot, but it's what we're supposed to do. It's also a big deal because the Bible also tells us,

 ^"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

{Matthew 6:14-15}

Despite the seemingly impossible task of forgiving someone that hurt us, we need to forgive them. Don't just say the words "I forgive you" but give the hurt and the pain up to God to deal with. Give Him the burden and the situation. The Bible tells us:

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

{Matthew 11:28-30}

Ephesian 4:32 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Forgiveness doesn't mean you trust the person that hurt you right away. That trust needs to be built up slowly. Forgiveness isn't condoning actions or forgetting them. Forgiveness isn't automatic. No.. forgiveness is a constant process. It's a daily thing. Forgiveness is a choice. You have to choose to forgive.

Forgiveness is God's solution to the problem called sin. After turning on Him and ignoring Him, He chose to forgive us through Jesus Christ. He has a bigger plan for our lives and without forgiveness, we'll never fully reach our potential.

In closing, here some words of encouragement from my favorite passage of the Bible.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.

{Ephesians 2:1-10}

He's forgiven us, so we, in turn, must forgive others.

Sources other than the Bible: http://marshill.com/2010/09/27/10-things-forgiveness-is-not