Another man with whom I was acquainted, but had not seen for many years, was in a dying condition. Another minister, asked to visit him, travelled several hundred miles to reach his bedside. But when the minister talked to him about his hopes of eternity, the dying man revealed that he had a grudge in his heart which he could not forgive nor forget. In his early life, he had been hunting one day when a shot from someone’s gun struck him in the arm, and as a result the arm had to be amputated.

He learned afterward that it was his neighbour who had accidentally shot him. And from that time on, all through his life, he carried a grudge against that neighbour. The minister pointed out to the dying man that if he wanted God’s forgiveness, he must forgive his brother.

“I’ll never do it,” was the reply; and the man went out into eternity, forfeiting God’s forgiveness and heaven.

We must keep a spirit of forgiveness. No matter how others act, we must we must feel kindly towards them, and not cherish anything like resentment for their misdeeds. It may be: “Hard to feel the stranger’s scoff, Hard the old friends failing off, Hard to learn forgiving! But the Lord has His own rewards, And His love with theirs accords – Warm, and fresh and living.”

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
(Mat 18:21-35)