Gospel Reflections #82: When it is hard to forgive

Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

In this situation, we find it difficult to talk to people in a private place. It is also hard for the victim to reach out to the offender and give him advice. We don't reach out to fight again, do we?

When we sinned against God, God sent Jesus to us. Would Jesus seek us out, point out our sins, favor us, seek our apologies, or punish us for our sins? That is not the kind of Jesus, is it?

Jesus knows all our sins, our weaknesses, and our stubbornness, and He forgives us for our sins, has mercy on us, heals us, and surrounds us with love. He engages us in a situation that is just the two of us so that we are not put to shame. We can admit and confess our own sins because we experience them.

God's goal is not to get us to admit and confess our sins but to bring us back to Him.

We can only do to others as God has done to us. Those who have been forgiven by God can forgive others, and those who have been loved by God can love others. We are already forgiven, redeemed, healed, pitied, and continually loved by God.

(It is hard to forgive and settle offenses. Healing is a complicated matter but Jesus' love warming our hearts makes these complications settle and relaxes our tired and irritated heart muscles.)

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This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of Jesus. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from the Gospel that has filled her heart.