Command 32 : Forgive Offenders | Day 218

Forgive Your Offenders!

Jim could not understand why his sons were reacting to him. Although he was sometimes hard on them if they failed to keep their word, he reasoned that responsibility was an important character quality that they should develop.

Responsibility is an important quality for children to learn, but why was Jim so harsh in teaching it to his sons? The reason could be traced back to a time when Jim was a boy and his father failed to keep an important promise to him. One day Jim's father had informed Jim that he would be going to summer camp. At first, Jim was hesitant to leave, because he was raising pigeons and there would be no one to take care of them while he was gone. However, his father assured Jim that he would take personal responsibility for the care of the pigeons while Jim was gone.

When Jim returned from camp, he rushed out to see his pigeons. To his horror, they were all dead! His father had failed to care for them. The pain of the situation grew even worse when his father flippantly said, "Oh, I forgot, but they were just a bunch of pigeons. You can get some more." Jim developed a deep resentment toward his father, and this resentment was now affecting the way he responded to his sons and others.

The need to fully forgive offenders from the heart is clearly given in this important command:

Command Thirty-Two: “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22).

It is possible that Peter's concern in asking this question was that an offender be properly punished. Jesus knew that such a perspective would never allow Peter to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter needed a bigger perspective—one that would change his heart from self-centeredness to self-examination, from vindictiveness to viewing all of his sins that God had forgiven.

The principles of forgiveness that Jesus taught Peter are vital for us to understand as well. The Book of I Peter is like a "handbook for the hurting" and gives practical instruction on how to respond to offenses.

When we do not forgive, we are hindered from being the people God intends for us to be.

If we fail to fully forgive those who have hurt us, we will develop reactionary and defensive spirits that will damage other relationships in our lives. We may not even be aware of our negative attitudes, but those around us will notice them. Some will learn to live with them, concluding that "this is just the way we are." Others will react to our attitudes, which will cause new hurts.

How have we responded to offenses in the past? Have we become angry and bitter, or have we shown forgiveness and love? Let's ask God to teach us the keys to forgiveness and to give us the grace needed to obey this vital command.