Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22
There are times when we go through situations with people that cause us great pain. Times when we trust people and they betray us, times when we love people and they misuse our love, times when we help people and they leave us hanging in our time of need, times when we make plans with people and they don’t carry out their part of the plan and there are times when we extend ourselves to people that turn around and use your kindness for weakness or make a mess out of an honest effort to help. These are painful times (whether you admit it or not). These are the times Jesus talked about in the above verses. Because some times the same people keep on doing the same thing over and over but because you love Him you keep allowing them to do it again, praying all the while that they will change.
Jesus knows what betrayal feels like, He knows what two-faced people look like, Jesus knows what it feels like to be all right one day and cast aside the next, Jesus knows what it feels like to give all you have only to have those you gave it to hurt you to your core, Jesus knows and yet Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34
Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly yet He knew we would have pain in the midst of our life. Some times the pain is part of the plan. It’s not forever but it’s part of the plan. Remember For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 DON’T RETALIATE – FORGIVE THEM
Don’t be fooled and don’t be distracted,
Minister Deidra Bibb
