Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

FORGIVENESS At some time in our marriage, all of us do something for which we need forgiveness and mercy. The truly happy husband or wife is one who lives in an attitude of forgiveness, not harboring grudges or holding the error over the head of the erring one. Refusing to give mercy will prevent our receiving mercy. The eternal law of God indicates that we reap what we sow. When Jesus insists on mercy, He is forbidding one of the most harmful emotions any man or woman can ever have. Bitterness can ruin not only a marriage but also a soul. The Bible warns us to beware the destructive power of bitterness: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled (Hebrews 12:15). Bitterness does two things: it troubles us, and it defiles others. Our refusal to forgive our mates, children, or parents will destroy our relationships. It will give us high blood pressure, ulcers, colitis, and it will make our offspring angry and rebellious. We simply cannot afford the luxury of holding grudges. We must love and forgive or we perish. We may feel that we are the one who always forgives. This is a situation that troubled the disciples, too: Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). The words of Christ are not always easy to live by, but they must be observed.