Discipleship & Radical ForgivenessSample

Read the verses from Luke 17. Can you imagine forgiving someone who betrayed you? Someone who left you like that? Someone you thought was a friend, someone who would support you? You are deeply disappointed in that person.

Jesus taught his disciples - and therefore to you and me - that we must forgive. It is an essential part of Jesus' example prayer, and when the disciples ask how many times they should forgive, Jesus gives the overwhelming answer: 7x70=490 times. This means we must forgive again and again. Bizarre right?

Apparently, for Jesus, forgiveness is a super-important topic, and maybe that's not surprising. Jesus came to the world to bring about forgiveness. He wanted to make things right again between God and us. He made a way through which we can come back to God. Forgiveness, in a radical way: Jesus gave Himself.

Where do you still have something to forgive?

In this microCHALLENGE we challenge you to reflect on forgiveness. What still lies between you and the other? Take a moment to listen to your Master, Jesus, in silence. Maybe a name will come to mind, maybe not. Simply ask if the Lord will make it clear to you. If a situation or person comes to mind, take the step to resolve it. Jesus wants you to live in freedom, and giving forgiveness is part of that.

Challenge accepted?

Take the following questions with you to think about and take action on:

• Is there someone with whom you still have something to resolve?
• Who do you still need to forgive? How are you going to do that?
• What specific steps can you take to do that?

Prayer:

"Jesus, help me to forgive. Will You put names in my mind of people I still have something to forgive? Will You give me the courage to forgive? Jesus, will You help me to see You - Your work, and the forgiveness You give? Help me, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen."