Our Scripture reading today is Luke 17:3-4.
Verse 4, "And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."
The Lord Jesus makes it very clear in our text that forgiveness is required. Forgiveness will be seen in our lives as our love for the Lord grows. We forgive because we know we have been forgiven. As we recognize all the forgiveness God has provided for us, we should be more than willing to forgive others who have sinned against us.
"What do we do with the person who has never repented? Do we forgive them? Even if relationship cannot be restored because no common mind is arrived at, we can still choose to forgive them on our part, and wait for a work of God in their life for the restoration of relationship." The entire them of these verses is not less forgiveness but more. It will free us from the potential of becoming bitter when we forgive whether or not restoration has been sought.