Scripture from Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT) 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! |
Let’s be honest: it’s easier for us to receive forgiveness than to give forgiveness. We want to be let off the hook for things we’ve done, but it’s harder for us to let go of something someone has done to us. Holding a grudge makes us feel we still have power over someone else, that we have the right to be mad at them and it justifies our actions toward them.
One time after Jesus finished teaching, Peter asked Him, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” Jesus replied, “No, not seven times! Seventy times seven.” This means two things: 1) Jesus calls us to forgive others, and 2) Jesus calls us to forgive a lot. |
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What you need to do now will be hard—really hard. But it’s what Jesus asks of us. If Jesus forgave you ALL your sin by dying on a cross, can you not forgive a person who has sinned several times against you? At this station, use a pencil to write on a piece of paper the person’s name that you need to forgive. Take a moment to think about this person, pray for this person, and as a symbol of forgiving them, take the eraser and wipe their name away. Consider telling this person you’ve forgiven them for how they’ve wronged you. 
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Reflection for Kids
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