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Forgiving

Jesus taught his disciples to forgive many times. Not just the seven times that Peter thought was very generous. Jesus said seventy times seven and that in one day. However forgivenes does not mean continually putting up with someone's bad behaviour. That is not even good for them. Jesus taught that we should go to a brother who has wronged us and talk it over. If he does not put things right, to go again with two witnesses. If this still did not bring the desired result the whole church should be called on to intercede, and if the wrong doer still did not repent he should be ignored. Forgiveness is there to bring reconciliation, not there for the toleration of wrong doing. But the example of forgiveness given is that of God in Christ forgiving us.
We had treated him so badly and yet he gave himself in Christ for our salvation. Never mind your fellow believer, are you treating God as he should be treated with love trust and obedience? How often we all fall short of his love for us.

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