LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Friday 28th January 2022
FAITH TO FORGIVE
Scripture Reading: Luke 17:1-10
And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:4–5
It is very interesting to note that the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith after He spoke of forgiveness. They observed all of the wonderful miracles Jesus performed and yet that never inspired them to ask for greater faith. But when Jesus spoke to them about the number of times we must forgive those who offend us, they asked for their faith to be increased. Truly, walking in love and forgiveness with each other takes as much faith as any miracle we will ever believe for.
The basis of forgiveness is the love and mercy of God. It is only because God first loved and forgave us that we can love and forgive others. If we do not accept forgiveness from God, we can’t minister it to others.
The scriptures admonish us to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. God offered His forgiveness to us while we were yet sinners. He forgave us before we repented or asked for forgiveness. Therefore, forgiveness was offered to all unconditionally. Likewise, we are to forgive others their trespasses, just as God has forgiven us our trespasses.
Have you been hurt? Is somebody bugging your life continuously? Then you need to go to the Lord the same way His disciples went to Him. Ask Him to give you the grace to deal with those who hurt you and the faith to forgive them. One of the most important marks of our Christian maturity is our ability to forgive those who trespass against us.
Yes, it is important for those who seek forgiveness to first repent, but before they even do that, we can take the first step to forgive them.
Prayers: Heavenly Father, take vengeance out of my heart. Give me the strength to forgive those who offend me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.