Seventy Times Seven: Choosing A Forgiving Spirit
Forgiving others is one of those ideas that sounds beautiful… until it becomes personal. When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” he probably felt generous. Seven times feels more than fair. It feels spiritual. It feels like a reasonable limit. But Jesus’ response shattered the idea of limits altogether:“Not seven times, but seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21–22) Jesus wasn’t giving Peter a math problem. He was giving him a posture of the heart. Forgiveness Is a Lifestyle, Not a Tally Seventy times seven isn’t about keeping score—it’s about letting go of the scorecard entirely. Forgiveness, in the Kingdom of God, isn’t something we ration out when someone “deserves” it. It’s a way of living that reflects how God has treated us. God doesn’t forgive us once and then keep a record for the next failure. His mercy is continual, patient, and undeserved. And He invites us to mirror that same mercy in our relationships. That doesn’t mean forgiveness is easy. It doesn’t mean the hurt didn’t matter. And it doesn’t mean boundaries aren’t necessary. But it does mean we choose not to let bitterness take root in our hearts. Why Forgiveness Is for Us Unforgiveness weighs us down. It keeps us tied to old wounds, old conversations, and old versions of ourselves. Forgiveness, on the other hand, sets us free—not because the other person earned it, but because God desires freedom for His children. When we forgive, we are saying:“I trust God with justice.”“I refuse to let this pain define me.”“I choose healing over resentment.” A Daily Declaration Forgiveness is rarely a one-time decision. Often, it’s a daily surrender. Sometimes it’s a moment-by-moment prayer asking the Holy Spirit for strength when our own runs out. So this year, let this be our declaration: This year, with God’s help and the power of the Holy Spirit, I declare: I will have a Forgiving Spirit. Not because it’s easy.Not because it’s natural.But because it’s Christlike. And in choosing forgiveness—again and again—we step into the freedom, peace, and grace that God has already so generously given to us. Watch This Message and learn more about forgiveness.
Am I Worthy?
Have you ever been in a situation outside of your normal everyday routine and felt like you are not worthy, and worried that other people are going to figure that out? My husband and I recently had an amazing date night! We went to an Elevation Worship concert. We were long overdue for some good quality time, so I decided to try to maximize our day by making us dinner reservations at Ruth’s Chris before the concert. It was an absolute five-star night. As we pulled up to the restaurant, we noticed they had valet parking. My husband was driving and was more than happy to pull in and let the bored-looking young man park our car as we walked in, feeling like the ultimate fine diners. I held up my hand to stop him. “Don’t use valet!” I said. He looked confused. Why would we not, he said without saying it. I proceeded to defend my irrational decision by explaining that my car was a mess. We had multiple water bottles lying around and, of course, the melty remnants of my Starbucks iced coffee. I had sports equipment, multiple first aid kits, don’t ask, and a few shopping bags strewn about in the back seat. There was a sticky substance on the shifter, most likely from my addiction to cold foam. Not to mention, the outside of my car was filthy. We live in the middle of corn fields, so a thin layer of dust is standard for my vehicle. “Let’s just park ourselves and walk in,” I pleaded. I could tell my husband thought this was ridiculous, but he decided not to challenge my theory on why we were not worthy of valet service. As we walked past the valet section, my husband jokingly said, “Honey, look! That one is just like our old Lamborghini!” It did make me laugh, and as we walked, I saw something that stopped me for a moment. Amongst the luxury vehicles was a teal green, 1991 Toyota Corolla. I mean, it was mostly green except for the tan driver side door that must have been replaced after a crash. It had one remaining hubcap that was cracked in half and hanging on for dear life. The owner had expertly matched the red tape to the busted-out tail light, and from a distance, it almost appeared as if the plastic cover was still intact. I was honestly envious of the confidence, or sense of humor, that the driver of this car had in pulling right up to the front of this fancy restaurant. I love my grocery-go-getter, and in rural Dwight, it’s pretty fancy. I’m probably the envy of many in the school drop-off line, but why, when I pulled into a 5-star restaurant in Hoffman Estates, did I now feel embarrassed about my dirty midsize SUV? Have you ever felt like a 1991 Toyota Corolla in your relationship with Jesus? Have you ever felt unworthy, unclean or unqualified to sit with those who seemed to have a Lamborghini exterior? I think we feel unworthy in so many ways, and as a result, we disqualify ourselves for the love God so freely offers us through the gift of Jesus. It’s not just the current generation that believes the lie that they must clean themselves up before bringing their needs to Jesus. The Old Testament taught us this as well. There is a long list of people who were unable to approach the temple and worship God in their current state of sin and shame. Jesus came and completely turned all of this upside down. I love Him for that!! In Matthew 8:2, it says, “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, can you make me clean?” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately, he was cleansed of his leprosy.” I see two important points in this verse. First, the man boldly came and kneeled before Jesus. He was not limiting himself to what society expected of him. He believed Jesus was the Savior he needed, and he bravely asked for what he needed. Secondly, Jesus did not hesitate. He was not limited by law. He went straight for the unclean and touched and healed him. God accepts us as we are. There is no need to clean it up before we come to him with our needs. Romans 5:8 says: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If you feel unworthy, you aren’t completely wrong in that feeling. You are worthy, but not because you are worthy. You are worthy because Christ has made you worthy. Feeling unworthy of God’s love devalues what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. We are free to draw near to his throne of grace with freedom and confidence. Or, in other words, confidently pull that Corolla up to the valet. In God’s eyes, we all appear as Lamborghini’s because the blood of Christ covers us.