The Miracle of Forgiveness If you’re new to Lifpoint | Worthington, take 30 seconds to fill out our Welcome Card! Have a question about today's message? Ask it here. Matthew 18:31–35 (ESV) 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. Series Recap: The Unforgiving Servant At its most basic level, forgiveness is releasing a debt owed to you. Forgiveness is a deeply complicated process with no “one-size-fits-all” answer. A massive debt (10,000 talents) was canceled, showing us that forgiveness begins with recognizing how God has first forgiven us. Do I Really Need to Forgive? If we take the claims of Jesus seriously, the unavoidable answer is yes. Part of following Jesus means we actively choose forgiveness. We look at the one who has wounded us, and based on the ethic of the Gospel, we step into the process of releasing them. Does Forgiveness Mean Going Back to Normal? The Bible distinguishes between forgiveness (something I do) and reconciliation (something we do). We can extend forgiveness, but we cannot control what the other person does with it. While reconciliation is a beautiful goal, there are legitimate situations where healthy boundaries must be set. Jesus is not mandating that you pretend the offense never happened. Have a question or pushback on this? Ask it here. How Do I Actually Forgive? The Danger of Duty If we try to forgive solely because we were forgiven, we risk turning grace into a heavy obligation. Relying on sheer willpower does not heal a broken heart or destroy the invisible ledger. The Miracle of Forgiveness Genuine forgiveness from the heart is contrary to human nature; it is a miracle. Because we cannot conjure it on our own, this process must start with prayer. “‘Jesus, help me!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’” – Corrie ten Boom Have a question or pushback on this? Ask it here. Shifting the Inner Dialogue True forgiveness does not come from a place of fear or the threat of punishment. It comes from being overwhelmed by the reality of God's radical love and Fatherly affection for you. As always, if you'd like to talk more with me about anything we discussed, you can sign up for meeting time. If you have any questions from the message today, send them here and I'll follow up!