I love you—to infinity and beyond!  My husband and I try to race each other to saying this catch phrase taken from a kid’s movie, Toy Story.  It’s a fun way to express our love for each other.  (When our grandkids were younger, this movie was on a loop in our home!)  This phrase reminds us of the love we have for each other that is infinitely everlasting. 

Even on challenging days, with Jesus at the center of our being, our love never changes and does indeed go beyond infinity!  Possible?  Yes!  This kind of love “covers a multitude of sins” and disagreements we might have in our marriage.  This love prompts us to quickly forgive, no matter what, an infinitely number of times.  This love goes beyond our wildest dreams and imagination at times when we see God at work in us—building His character inside us that goes to infinity and beyond!  We are both a work in progress.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:8-10

Before Peter wrote the passage above, while still in “training”, he asked Jesus about the act of forgiveness.  Impetuous, speak first-think later, bold Peter got the nerve to ask Jesus, “How many times do I have to forgive?”  Jesus replied, “To infinity and beyond”!  Okay, He really said, “Seventy times seven” but it implies the same attitude. 

Peter learns a valuable lesson that will stay with him, transforming his small thinking to greater than thinking as he lives to please Jesus.

Matthew 18, The Message

A Story About Forgiveness

²¹ At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

²² Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

^23-25 “The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

^26-27 “The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

²⁸ “The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’

^29-31 “The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

^32-35 “The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Forgive as God has forgiven you. 

“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:32 MSG

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

Here’s what I’m learning about the righteous act of forgiveness:

• Forgiveness sets us free to love to “infinity and beyond,” God helping us.
• Forgiveness helps us see life from a different, life-giving, perspective.
• Forgiveness restores the joy of Jesus’ salvation at work within us.
• Forgiveness builds character.  An unforgiving heart tears down what Jesus is trying to build in us.
• Forgiveness renews our minds and transform our whole being.
• Forgiveness is obedience to the One and Only we love the most because He loved and forgave us first!  He is the One who supplies all we need to forgive freely and ungrudgingly—Jesus.
• The more quickly we forgive the faster peace returns.
• I have more to learn to reach infinity and beyond!

Want to be like Jesus?  Peter, who learned forgiveness well from Jesus writes later:

 ^“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone  He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds you are healed.
Once you were like sheep who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls”.                                                                                           1 Peter 2:21-25

While on the cross for our sins, Jesus prayed forgiveness: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34

Wow.  Can we pray that prayer for those who merely offend us without thinking, for those who will never say they’re sorry, or for those who are hurting so they hurt others?  I pray the answer is yes.

Lord,

How can we not forgive those who hurt us?  When we sin, we sin against you.  Forgive us our sins AS WE forgive those who sin against us.  Deliver us from the evil of unforgiveness.  Lesson learned.

In Jesus Name, Amen