Forgiveness

“If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” – Luke 17:4

At a Prison Fellowship banquet in Seattle, Ruth Youngsman said: “The man I ate dinner with tonight killed my brother.”
Ruth introduced her incredible tale of reconciliation. She told how John H. had murdered her brother during a robbery, served 18 years at Walla Walla Prison, then settled into life on a dairy farm, where, unbelievably and ironically, she met him in 1983, 20 years after his crime. Compelled by Christ’s command to forgive, Ruth Youngsman went to John and pronounced forgiveness. Then she took him to her father’s deathbed, prompting reconciliation with the dad as well.

At that Prison Fellowship banquet, John’s voice cracked as he said, “Christians are the only people I know that you can kill their son, and they’ll make you a part of their family. I don’t know the Man Upstairs yet, but He sure is hounding me.”

The Lord calls upon us to forgive others just as we have been forgiven by Him.

Thank Christ that you have been freed from your sins and then forgive others in the same way.

“They who forgive most will be most forgiven.” – Philip J. Bailey

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13