Read
You are about to read a parable that Jesus told. In the parable there is someone who represents God, someone who represents you, and someone who represents others in your life.
Matthew 18:21-35
In the story, the king was willing to forgive a HUGE debt. Is there anything you have done that you find it hard to believe God forgives you for?
Why do you think it is so important to God that we forgive others?
Think Deeper
When we don’t forgive, it leads to anger. If you struggle with anger, forgiveness is the key to victory. Why is it so hard to forgive people sometimes?
Do you feel like when you forgive someone you are letting them get away with what they did? If so, why should you forgive them anyway?
If you had a dog and it pooped in your room (eww), you would probably be mad at the dog. If you left the poop on the floor to get back at the dog, it would not make things worse for the dog. It would only hurt you. Your whole room would smell like poop! Seriously, get it out of your room. Holding on to anger is the same thing. It doesn’t hurt the person that you are angry with, it only hurts you. You have to get it out. How does not forgiving others hurt us?
Think about forgiving like forgiving a debt. If a friend owes you money, you can get them to pay you back or you can forgive the debt. That means they don’t owe you anymore. When it comes to anger and unforgiveness there is something you believe the other person owes you. Maybe they owe you an apology or they owe you a friendship. Maybe they owe you something they could never pay back. Now it’s up to you to forgive the debt.
Make it personal
Who in your life tends to annoy you the most frequently? What do they do that makes you angry? How do you usually respond?
What are some ways you could delay expressing anger in a negative way?
What are some healthy things you can do when you are angry at someone?
Is there someone you are angry with right now? Your parents, a sibling, a friend? What do you feel like they owe you? What was taken from you?