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The Overflow of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not natural—it’s supernatural. Left to ourselves, we want justice, even revenge. But the gospel calls us to something far greater: to live in the overflow of forgiveness.

Peter once asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who wronged him. Surely seven times would be more than enough. But Jesus shattered his expectation: “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22 NIV). In other words, forgiveness has no limit. Why? Because the forgiveness we’ve received from God has no limit.

Paul writes, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13 NIV). Think about that. How did the Lord forgive us? Fully. Freely. Without holding back. Without keeping score. He didn’t wait for us to deserve it—He forgave us at our worst. And that forgiveness wasn’t a one-time act; it overflows every single day.

When you truly grasp the depth of God’s mercy toward you, something shifts. You realize you can’t keep forgiveness bottled up—it has to flow out. If grace has filled your cup, then forgiveness must overflow to others.

But forgiveness is costly. It means releasing the right to retaliate against someone. It means surrendering bitterness, which often feels like giving up control. Yet the truth is, unforgiveness doesn’t punish the other person—it poisons us. It chains us to the pain of the past. Forgiveness, on the other hand, sets us free.

And here’s the beautiful part: forgiveness doesn’t just bring freedom to you—it overflows to others. When you choose to forgive, you release not only the weight from your own soul but also from your relationships, your family, and even your generations. The ripple of forgiveness is powerful.

Jesus demonstrated this from the cross. As the nails pierced His hands, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). If He could forgive in that moment, there is no wound in our lives too deep for His Spirit to empower us to forgive.

Forgiveness is not saying what happened was okay. It is not minimizing pain. It is placing justice in God’s hands and choosing to live free. And when we live free, others see the overflow of grace and are drawn to the One who forgave us first.

Pause & Reflect:

• Am I holding on to any bitterness that God is asking me to release?
• How has God’s forgiveness toward me changed the way I view others?
• Who might experience the overflow of God’s forgiveness if I choose to forgive today?

Prayer: Father, thank You for forgiving me fully and freely through the cross. Help me to release others as You have released me. Let forgiveness overflow from my heart so that bitterness has no place, and Your love can shine through me. In Jesus' name, amen.