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Some Christians probably get tired of reading biblical mandates to forgive others.

To them, the recurring message of scripture might seem like a mother’s admonition to “Clean up your room!” that keeps being neglected.

The patient mother knows, however, that the room won’t clean itself and that laziness toward personal habits lays a foundation to larger, costlier problems.

And so her admonitions continue.

To stop them is to settle for disarray, something that is never good.

Today’s reading in the One-Year Bible contains another admonition to forgive others.

It’s in Matthew 18 and involves the question of Peter who asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

It is supposed by Bible scholars that Peter was thinking he’d impress God and Jesus by this implied willingness to give others seven strikes before saying, “You’re out!”

And the fact is that many people never reach that threshold of forgiveness toward others.

The grudges are just too tasty, too sticky, it seems.

But Jesus wasn’t impressed.

In fact, Jesus said one should forgive another 490 times at a minimum. Of course, Jesus was using hyperbole in order to make a point that Christians aren’t to keep score regarding forgiveness.

For to do so implies a deep root of hypocrisy. And Jesus points this out quite clearly in His parable that follows.

We all are quick to desire the forgiveness of others, even if our pride blocks us from verbalizing it.

If only we were as quick in our desire to forgive others.

Jesus said elsewhere that God will forgive us according to the pattern that we use to forgive others.

That’s a very tough teaching for many.

Because many are clinging to very tasty, very sticky grudges.

Please, my friend, view grudges as poison.

Because that’s just what they are.

No matter how badly we’ve been wounded by another, no matter how distasteful the idea of letting the offender(s) off the hook — regardless of whether they ask forgiveness or not — we’ve got to let it go.

For the consequences of rebellion against God just might leave us forever with something infinitely more distasteful than a bowlful of swallowed pride.

Please…. forgive always. Without keeping score.

The benefits are out of this world.

As always, I love you
Martin

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