HOW DEEP IS YOUR FAITH?(4).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*HOW DEEP IS YOUR FAITH? (4).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Lk 17:3-5  *Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.*

*And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.*

*And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Faith is capable of increasing.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Jesus teaches one of the hardest but simple in God's eyes, a doctrine of the Christian faith: forgiveness.

He teaches how we can forgive, having suffered harsh provocation and often heartbreaking and life-threatening attitudes from people.

Forgiveness is a command, and since we often try to find reasons why we should forgive a deliberate offense so we must not look for reasons why we must not forgive.

He preaches to have the heart to forgive, not knowing if the offender would ever change from hurting us again.

The faith required teaches us that God will

fight for the person of faith.

Jesus' emphasis on offenses *"....seven times in a day, and seven times...."*

He further tells us how repetitive the offender's behaviour may be, yet if he tells us he has repented, he should be forgiven.

His offenses are not over time but in a period of *"......in a day...."*.

Matthew's record of this explains further.

Matt 18:21-22 *Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?*

*Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.*

Matthew's record did not mention a day, but he broadened the offenses capable of forgiveness with limitless forgiveness and the boundlessness of mercy as a continuous attitude to our offenders just as God does to us.

These statements of Jesus connect the heart of the forgiving person to the concept of God's own unending forgiveness and mercy toward humanity's failures.

Jesus teaches great faith here that tells or enables us to forgive the unforgivable, persistent, and deliberate provocation as God forgives.

We are to forgive, not bothering if the offender would stop his offenses or would ever change or not from his evil ways.

It takes great faith to forgive the unforgivable.

Is there really an offense that is unforgivable?

There should be none!

We are to forgive with or without proof that though the offender tells us he has repented yet does not, Lk 17:4.

No wonder the disciple told Jesus to increase their faith. They must have been telling Jesus that the faith they had then was not enough to carry them to forgive one offense how much more 490!

All we need is the faith that the offender would stop his offenses one day in order to avoid the curse Jesus placed on him.

Jesus says in Lk 17:1-2

*Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!*

*It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.*

If God says we should forgive, He is willing to give you the grace to support the faith you need to facilitate the forgiveness.

God would not tell you to do what He knows you could not do!

How deep is your faith

It can be deeper if you ask God to increase your faith!

*Remorse corner.*

Faith says forgive when it is impossible to forgive.

*Call to Word action.*

Faith says forgive when it is not likely the offender would change, though he tells you he has repented

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Faith says if you have been forgiven by God, you should extend the same mercy to others by faith.

*Prayer.*

Lord, increase my faith to do the impossible in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.