14 Marriage Devotional: Forgiveness

Show notes

About This Episode Forgiveness is essential to a thriving marriage, but it is often misunderstood. In this devotional, we explain that forgiveness is the necessary first step toward reconciliation, yet it is not reconciliation itself, not an excuse for sin, and not pretending the hurt never happened. We use the picture of water poured on a fire that still leaves char. We walk through Jesus' teaching on forgiving seventy times seven in Matthew 18 and the parable of the unforgiving servant, which shows that withholding forgiveness sets us above God. We also talk about what a real apology includes and why forgiveness is a heart posture we hold even before the apology comes.

About Aaron & Jennifer Smith Aaron and Jennifer Smith are the founders of Marriage After God and authors of Husband After God, Wife After God, and Marriage After God. Married since 2007 and raising six children in Bend, Oregon, they started Husband Revolution and Unveiled Wife to share what God was teaching them, not from a place of having it figured out, but as fellow travelers pointing couples back to Jesus.

In This Episode What forgiveness is not — not reconciliation, not excusing sin, and not pretending it didn't happen Water on a fire — why forgiveness puts out the flames even though char remains Seventy times seven — Jesus' words in Matthew 18 and Israel's 490 years of unkept Sabbaths The unforgiving servant — how withholding forgiveness sets us above God A real apology — naming what you did and why you're sorry A heart ready to forgive — holding forgiveness before the apology comes Humility and repentance — opening the door to reconciliation The gospel — we're forgiven before we're forgivable

Scripture Referenced Matthew 18

Resources from This Episode Husband After God Wife After God Shop Marriage After God Full show notes and blog post

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