Passage Read: Matthew 17-18
Meditation Verses: 18:21-22
Thought
This is not a command to forgive everyone who sins against me, but everyone who pleads for forgiveness, as the parable that follows makes clear. God doesn't forgive the sins of every person, but only those who come to Him in repentance, pleading for forgiveness. He keeps a record of every sin of every person, and in the final judgment, all will be judged according to what is recorded in those books. Only those who come to Jesus and receive forgiveness through His blood have their sins blotted out. The rest remain objects of wrath, yet He continues to send rain and sunshine on all, even His enemies. He would rather they repent than carry out judgment on them.
Application
I don't have to keep a record of everyone's sin against me. God does that. But if I love people, then I will make them aware of their sin so that they have opportunity to repent. Even God disciplines those He loves. I may not have power to discipline, but I can warn. The command to forgive from the heart is a warning to guard against responding with anger and being consumed by that anger when someone sins against me. My desire should always be their repentance so that we can be restored.