Observation
Jesus is telling the apostles that they will have to continuously forgive others. Even if sin has been confronted and the person still messes up, they have to forgive. The apostles have an interesting response to Jesus though. They respond by saying increase our faith. Why does forgiveness take faith? Maybe it is believing that change will eventually come? Maybe it is trusting that God will use the junk for good? Maybe it is because forgiveness is not a natural thing to do? Forgiveness goes against our very sin nature. To forgive takes great faith. The apostles knew who to ask for great faith; the One who is always Faithful.
Application
I used to hold grudges like you wouldn't believe. But now, that behavior seems so completely foreign to me; it is evidence of Christ in me. Nevertheless, there was a trial a few years ago where I had to forgive someone over and over again. Not for the same sin, but that someone would continually hurt me. Everyday I would enter the good fight of faith, and repeat over and over again, "I trust You God, I trust You God, ......". I didn't know it then, but my faith was increasing. I can now look back on that time and see that God was indeed increasing my faith through forgiveness.
Prayer
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