How many times would you forgive a person who’s done you wrong? 3 times? 5 times? 7 times? I think I will give up on the person after maybe 3 times. You can fool me 3 times but not more than that!

A long time ago, when I was a youth pastor, there was a boy in the youth ministry who stole another student’s check book. He proceeded to write a check out for over $1,000 to buy himself some video games. This was the last straw for me. He had done something similar two previous times and I couldn’t tolerate him anymore. I kicked him out of the youth ministry. Now, before you judge me as to how I could do this, I was being biblical. Matthew 18 lays out a disciplinary action we should take should a member sin against another and he is not repentant. This boy had no remorse and didn’t think it was a big deal! I had no choice but to kick him out. And after he had been cut off from his friends, it was then he realized the gravity of what he had done. He was welcomed back into the ministry after he made restitution and had repented.

But I am not sure how many more times I would’ve forgiven him if he kept on doing it. How many times would Jesus have forgiven him if He were the youth pastor? He would’ve forgiven him every time he repents. Jesus says to the disciples, “… if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent, you must forgive him..'” (Lk 17:4) 

You know what we call a person who does that? A sucker! Because he falls for the same trick every time! But let me ask: How many times do you want God to forgive you for the same sin in you?  How many times have you committed the same sin and repented? 

No wonder the disciples said, “Increase our faith!” when Jesus told them this. It is humanly impossible. We get annoyed after a 3 time or so. But 7 times in one day??? This merely demonstrates how patient God is with us.

Could we be half as patient with others as God is with us? This means, be willing to forgive others 3 1/2 times a day..

PH