A beautiful picture of forgiveness is depicted in the
story of the lady bug
The lady bug starts off with all black just like we are we are when we are born, we are dead in our sins Ephesians 2:1. No matter how hard we try or how good we become we can not change our state.
Then she receives the love of Jesus as a red heart is painted on her back- Forgiveness is the ultimate expression of love as Jesus comes, dies and sheds His blood for our sins so we can receive total forgiveness from our heavenly Father. This is grace as we do not deserve this but He does this for us for without it we can not be forgiven. Col. 1:14
Next we paint two white dots that represent the eyes to see and because we now have received this free gift of love and forgiveness for all of our sins we move from darkness to light and have revelation of what is right from wrong. We now know when we need to ask for forgiveness and when we need to forgive others if they have been wronged or sinned against us. Acts 26:18
Because of this there is now a defining line that we have drawn down the middle that separates her from the evil desires in her heart and in the world. This is the word of God that is shed abroad in our hearts that rightly divides the word of truth. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts. We now desire to have a heart like Him and are opposed to anything that is against Him. Hebrews 4:12
The beauty of this exchange is that it was accomplished when we first received the love of God and His act of forgiveness. And we then paint black dots to forever remind us that we will continue to make mistakes, to sin and be sinned against and will need to remember that if we don’t forgive others then we will not be forgiven. Matthew 6:12 and Matthew 18:35
Now that we have been freely forgiven and we want to continue to receive the freedom of daily forgiveness we must daily forgive those that have erred knowingly and unknowingly, wronged, sinned, repeatedly offended, hurt, deeply wounded, stabbed and maybe even have not forgiven us.
How many times you ask ? Matthew 18:21-35
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses
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