What to do when someone seeks forgiveness?

When someone sins against you, your knee-jerk reaction is to seek revenge; however, when someone comes to you genuinely repentant and seeking your forgiveness, what do you do?

Typically how this goes is that they first confess to God because they recognize they have sinned. And then they ask God for forgiveness which He will give because He is a loving and sovereign God. Some individuals will even take it a step further and seek your forgiveness and try to make things right. What do you do?

Here is a little clue from the Word of God.  Romans 12:19 says - Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance. I will repay those who deserve it, “ says the Lord.

And another clue from Colossians 3:13 requires us - to make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends us. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others (Starting with yourself).  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

And finally.  Matthew 18:22 says - Then Peter came to him and asked, Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? No! Jesus replied, seventy times seven.

God didn’t say you should, or you may or might. God said you must. Forgiveness allows you to take all that garbage you may carry around with you and cut it loose. Forgiveness allows you to let the person who wronged you no longer take up space in your heart, soul, and mind when they are not paying rent to be there.

Forgiveness will let you keep moving forward with God so you can do the work you were intended to do. And Forgiveness lets the light in you shine by showing grace to the one asking forgiveness.

And so again, I ask.  What do YOU do?