There have been many times in my life when I’ve needed to forgive or be forgiven. Some instances have been big, some small. Sometimes things just smoothed out or were worked through without much awareness of forgiving or being forgiven.
In the Bible, we read about the disciple Peter coming to Jesus to ask about forgiveness: “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 18:21, 22).
The King James Study Bible says that “seventy times seven” indicates that “unlimited forgiveness must characterize the true disciple” (p. 1505). So as Jesus’ disciples, or followers, we are asked to forgive, always. Fortunately, we are not alone in this endeavor. Christ, Truth, as demonstrated by Jesus, gives us the strength, the humility, the love to meet this demand to forgive without limit. This is part of working out our salvation, getting a clear understanding of our inseparable relationship to God, our Father-Mother.
