I woke up this morning actually thinking of the different ways people have apologized to me in the past, (and I’m sure I’ve used some of these also):
- I’m sorry you took it the wrong way.
- I’m sorry, but…
- I apologize for going overboard.
- You’re too sensitive.
- Then, there are those people who never apologize.
- There are those who turn the situation back on me so it’s my fault they got mad at me.
- There’s at least one person in my life who would get mad at me for getting mad at him. I ended up apologizing just to keep the peace.
In all of those situations, the person isn’t exactly asking for forgiveness. So, am I obligated to forgive them? Yes, of course.
I can’t even recall all of my sins at the end of the day in order to ask God for forgiveness. (I do try to ask as I go.) So, if He chose not to forgive me for the things I didn’t repent, … well, it just really humbles me to think about. Additionally, I cringe when I think about all of the times when I prayed, “I’m sorry I did xyz, Lord, but…” Thankfully, He forgives all of our sins and He sees us through the lens of Jesus Christ. If He, the Creator of the Universe can do that for me, then I should be able to do that for my loved ones.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV
Please join me this week in praying for those who have been hurt by the words or actions of a loved one. Pray that they look to the Lord for healing. Pray that their hearts soften so they can rise above the situation, that they find the strength and courage to forgive their offender. Let’s also pray for the person who inflicted the injury that they might become more kind and tenderhearted.
