Faith for Forgiveness

Esther 1-2; Psalms 150; Luke 17

“’…If your brother sins against you rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times come back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.’ The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.’”

Luke 17:3-6

Why did the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith when he called them to extend forgiveness repeatedly to their brother or sister?

It is in our closest relationships where we often lack faith that behaviors, character, and habits can change. Jesus calls his disciples to acknowledge when they have been sinned against and rebuke the offender. Then consistently and without judgment forgive them. By contending for clear and open communication while we extend forgiveness, we are placing our faith in God’s grace both in our lives and in those we are forgiving. Faith is the “evidence of things hope for…” (Hebrews 11:1).  It is essential if we are to move beyond ‘transactional forgiveness’ to ‘faith-filled forgiveness’.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for your transforming grace which I have received and now share, for your glory.”