One of the few times Jesus got mathematical in the Bible was when Peter asked him about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-22.
Peter thought seven times was enough but Jesus said “No. You must forgive seventy by seven times”

I remember perching on a pew one Tuesday evening and watching a preacher try to work the math out. It was so funny because I thought only creative people have math problems. As he went on, God just dropped a word in my spirit about what that scripture really meant; and if you have a moment, I will share it with you.

Psalm 90:10 says a person’s lifespan is 70 years and if they are strong, they might reach 80. The number seven is the number or symbol of Perfection. So what Jesus was really telling Peter that fateful day, was that you are supposed to live in Perfect Forgiveness all the days of your Life. He didn’t mean count the offences till they get to 70 or 490 or 7 as the common interpretation is. But what does Perfect Forgiveness really mean?

This truth might shock you but the easiest way to keep a prisoner, is to offend them. Unforgiveness enslaves. If somebody abused and hurt you in the past, they obviously are not good for your future so why will you carry them along with you? Some of us cannot enjoy new relationships because we come with a lot of baggage. Negative baggage from a past life. We are suspicious, never trusting, never releasing. We never love fully again, we always have a plan B. But that is so sad. Unforgiveness enslaves.

God calls Today “The Present” because it is a gift and the worst thing you can do to yourself is to judge Today with Yesterday’s eyes. Move on, my dear. Forgiveness empowers you to love again, trust again, pray again, risk again, gain again.
Perfect Forgiveness is NOT letting sleeping dogs lie. Remember those dogs will definitely wake up one day. When we are in love, we tend to ignore the flaws that glare at us, we sweep the offences under the carpet or we consider it inappropriate to wash our dirty linens; especially when we have to do it in public but these attitudes are so contrary to scripture and Christianity.

Many times in the Gospels, we read about people wanting to stone Jesus and he walks away from them. He leaves. If Jesus left people who wanted to abuse him or stone him, why do you think sticking to a partner or a boss who verbally or physically abuses you is the Christian thing to do? Jesus never tolerated abuse. Even when he was about to die, he asked the Father if there was a way he could avoid the oncoming abuse. He allowed himself to be beaten and killed for us because there was no other way. But you have a choice.

If you don’t want to walk away, then cry out loud for help. Call the Police. Call your Pastor. Call your parents. The Bible says “open rebuke is better than secret love”. If you, however, decide to walk away, make sure you don’t carry them along with you because they are not good for your future. Forgive them and move on.

In summary, remember Perfect Forgiveness means focus on strengths but don’t ignore the flaws. Celebrate the positives but confront the negatives, howbeit, with love.