Once my heart connects with the seriousness of what is said in Matthew 18:23-35, there is a great desire within me to not be like the unforgiving servant. And even though there are people and situations in our lives that are fairly easy to forgive, there is usually one if not multiple people and situations that are very challenging to forgive. Sometimes, there has been so much pain caused that it almost seems impossible to forgive a certain person. So how can I walk into a path of forgiveness when everything in my flesh fights against it?
1. Remember the goodness of the gospel in your own life.
Remember that at one time you were dead in your transgressions and sins (Eph 2:1, 12-13) and destined for destruction. Remember that it was Christ who came and died for you, even though you didn't deserve it, and now you have forgiveness in him. Remember that you did not earn your forgiveness but that it was freely given to you. Remember that apart from Christ you are just as much of a sinner as the person that has sinned against you; you are no better. In that place a humility, you can extend grace because you recognize how much grace has been extended to you.
2. Trust in the justice of God.
A lot of times when I have a hard time forgiving someone it's because I think justice needs to be done and so I will bring justice on them but holding a grudge. But Romans 12:9 says, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." We don't need to make sure justice is done, God will. He will right every wrong ever done, whether on the cross or in his eternal wrath, hell. Trust in that justice, it is perfect and you won't do better. If it is a brother or sister that has sinned against you, justice was done on the cross and has already been forgiven by your Heavenly Father; you don't have a right to still hold it against them. If it is a non-believer that has sinned against you, then they are storing up wrath for themselves (Romans 2:5) and God will avenge the wrong done against you; you don't have a right to deal out your own justice.
How ever you deal with it, just make sure that you are not holding a grudge against anyone. Because if you are, the master may hand you over to the torturers.
