Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled The Power of Forgiveness was written by Dave Brannon.

A 2021 news report told of 17 missionaries that had been kidnapped by a gang.

The gang threatened to kill the group,

including children, if their ransom demands weren't met. Incredibly, all the missionaries were

either released or escaped to freedom. On reaching safety, they sent a message to their captors.

Jesus taught us by word and by his own example that the power of

forgiving love is stronger than the hate of violent force. Therefore, we extend forgiveness to you.

Jesus made it clear that forgiveness is powerful. In Matthew chapter 6, he said,

if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly

father will also forgive you. Later in answering Peter, Christ told how often we should forgive.

I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times. And on the cross, he demonstrated godly forgiveness when he prayed,

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Forgiveness, at its fullest,

can be realized when both parties move toward healing and reconciliation. And while it doesn't

remove the effects of harm done or the need to be discerning

in how to address painful or unhealthy relationships, it can lead to restored ones,

testifying to God's love and power.

Let's look for ways to extend forgiveness for his honor.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Matthew

18, verses 23 through 35. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with

his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him 10,000 bags of gold was brought to him.

Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children,

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