A Prayer About “Seventy-Seven” Forgiveness
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22
Lord Jesus, I bet I’ve read this story at least seventy-seven times since you rescued me from the dominion of darkness and planted me in the reign of your grace. And I’ll do well to read it seventy-seven more times in this next season of getting to know your better and better, because forgiveness is as daily an issue and breathing, eating and sleeping.
I live in a constant state of needing forgiveness from you and I live in a permanent state of receiving it from you. That’s both the honest and the glorious part of my story. I sin against you-in thought, word and deed, every hour of every day. I’m most aware of my sin when I fix my gaze on you, NOT on the people who frustrate me, fail me or harm me. When I look at them, the “wicked servant” in me raises his self-righteous, mean-spirited, “I’ll-get-even-with-you” head (Matt. 18:21-35).
I also believe that you’ve already forgiven me of all of my sins-past, present and future. When I confess my sins and ask you to forgive me, I’m not really getting more or new forgiveness. I’m humbly, gratefully and wondrously appropriating the forgiveness that is already mine through the gospel. In fact, I need to confess, in this very moment, my need of your forgiveness for taking your “seventy-seven” forgiveness so very much for granted…
Dear Jesus, here’s where it gets more complicated, for people like Peter and me. I can usually, but not always, ratchet-up forgiving someone seven times for the same offence. But I need your grace, wisdom and strength to love from the 8th offence on. For right now, there are a few “seventy-seven” forgiveness scenarios that are eating away at my peace, gnawing away on my joy, and nibbling away at my very heart. I need you as much as I ever have, Jesus.
So I cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, come… apply the gospel in power… slay the wicked servant in me… humble me, gentle me, settle me, focus me, free me, love in me and through me, for the glory of God.” So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ perfectly holy and forgiving name.
