"Seventy times seven"

Vengeance is the offspring of unforgiveness. It is the tragedy of contemporary. The numerical strength of culprits and victims of Vengeance testify to this stance. It is testifying the way people scramble over every opportunity to get even with their offenders- even when they are our friends, parents, brothers or lovers.

Some who have been found guilty of this unloving attitude argue that the offense was beyond pardon because of the person involved or the frequency of the occurance. We hear some say, "why should he be the one to treat me that way? And others she has done it uncountable times, I can't forgive her again".

Well, at such moments, I do sympathize with the hurt people feel, because as long as you are not static, you will step on toes and have people step on yours too.

Peter, Jesus deciple must have been encumbered with the situation of having to forgive someone who repeatedly hurt him he confronted his master with a question, "Lord, his many times may my brothers sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" then Jesus answered, "Seventy times seven" - a whopping 490 times! Did Jesus gave him wrong counsel?.

I guess not, because I am persuaded non of us is wiser. This counsel places responsibility on us to lead a life of advanced forgiveness. Somebody may be saying, "Must I subje t myself to condoning unpalatable actions all because I want heed to the counsel of Jesus?"

Well, get me right, when you forgive someone you are not condoning that person's actions. What you are doing is not letting that person's action(s). Taint your attitude and also make you an offender.

I leave you with an illustration given by best-selling author, Dr. Fedric Price in his book five little foxes of faith, "If I go into someone's yard, and the persons dog comes and bites me, I do not hold it against the dog. I forgive the dog for being a dog, however, I also make it a point not to go back into that yard and subject myself with the dogs attack".

We have the right not only to forgive those who hurt us be also avoiding situations that will necessitate the recurrence of such issues.

I am @febbykeys.