A Word of Encouragement

May 23, 2026

Mission Mtns, MT - Jan 2014 - Nancy's Pic

Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;

After Jesus told His disciples how to deal with a Christian who wrongs them, Peter asked Him, "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?" (Matthew 18:15-21)

Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times."
	Matthew 18:22

Most English translations say. "seventy times seven", but the point is, forgiveness should not be limited to a certain number of times! Jesus said,

I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
	John 13:34

And in Paul's definition of 'love', (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) he wrote, "Love... does not keep an account of a wrong suffered." (Vs. 5) If forgiveness is limited to a fixed number, how could you know when you can stop forgiving someone if you don't keep an account?

Jesus emphasized this point with a parable about a wealthy man who forgave the significant debt of one of his servants who did not have the means to repay him. The man learned that the servant had gone out and beat and imprisoned a fellow servant for not paying the servant what was owed him, the man summoned the first servant and said, "You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?" And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. (Matthew 18:32-34) Then Jesus warned us,

My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.
	Matthew 18:35

God has forgiven us our sins, and He WILL discipline us if we fail to forgive each other!

Eloah Selichot - God of Forgiveness - help me love like You love me.

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. LOVE NEVER FAILS;
Emphasis mine	<Reference>

Love one another,