1) Our recognition of our own sin debt to God helps us understand others' sin debt to us. When we realize how much God has forgiven us, we quickly forgive others' trespasses against us.
2) Hurting people hurt people. When someone wrongs you, rather than focus on the wrong, focus on what's motivating that wrong. I've learned to sympathize with offenders in my life because I finally realized that many people's choices are driven by pain. These people act out to cover up hidden hurts.
3) No one on this earth can hurt us as much as we have hurt God. No matter how badly we think someone has broken our hearts, it doesn't compare to the wrongs we have committed that break God's heart on a daily basis.
4) God uses offenses to humble us. The next time someone offends, consider it an opportunity to look at your own heart asking God to reveal your own sins. As puffed up people, we think, "How could he/she have done this to me?" When we should think, "God forgive them for sinning against You. They know not what they do." In other words, we aren't as big of a deal as we think. God is the one we all (the offended and the offender) need to seek. Then, and only then, can reconciliation occur between the two parties.
5) Those who are forgiven much love much. When we realize how much God has forgiven us, our love for Him (and others) grows to new heights. In the same manner, our offenders who are forgiven by us usually love us even more because we have loved them as God would. (Did you get all that? It's beautiful, really.)
Please remember that Jesus wasn't trying to hurt us when he said to forgive seven times seventy. He, of course, wants what's best for us, so why do we continue to withhold forgiveness to others?
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