Having the right keys is important isn't it?
Just talk to someone who has been locked out of their house or who locked their keys in their car.

Throughout the month of February we are focusing on relationships.
What is the key to healthy, life-giving, God honoring relationships?
We're not talking about car keys or house keys, but rather, "relationship keys".

Today's focus is forgiveness.

Jesus had some very poignant and very powerful things to say about forgiveness.
As we read these words today, the question is: Are we willing to do what Jesus says?

There is an obvious and crazy disparity in the story. To those listening, it would have been obvious.

The master forgave the servant in such a remarkable way. A debt so great it is incomprehensible.

And yet the servant was unwilling to forgive someone else. Someone else with an offense that pales in comparison.

1. Forgiveness will heal your heart.
-"Unforgiveness is like drinking poison yourself and waiting for the other person to die."
-The person who has hurt you deserves your vengeance. But vengeance doesn’t belong to you anyway.
-God really places no limits on His command to forgive.
-When we choose to no longer hold onto an offense any longer, it frees us to truly live.

2. This forgiveness leads to your forgiveness.
-Our own willingness to forgive dictates the level at which we will be forgiven. That's what Jesus said!
-Many of us read these words of Jesus about forgiveness and yet live as if they aren't true.
-It's as if we know this is true, We know Jesus said this. But we live our lives filled with unforgiveness anyways.

The bottom line:
Forgiveness comes with a promise: forgive and be forgiven.

Scriptures for Further Study/Reflection:
Ephesians 4:32
Mark 11:25
Matthew 18:21-22
Colossians 3:13
Luke 17:3-4