Motivation Morsel - July 10, 2026

Ephesians 4:31-32: ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander along with all spitefulness. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah G-d has also forgiven you.

Matthew 6:14-15: ¹⁴ For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will not forgive yours.

Matthew 18:21-35: Kefa came up and said to him, “Rabbi, how often can my brother sin against me and I have to forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² “No, not seven times,” answered Yeshua, “but seventy times seven! ²³ Because of this, the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared with a king who decided to settle accounts with his deputies. ²⁴ Right away they brought forward a man who owed him many millions; ²⁵ and since he couldn’t pay, his master ordered that he, his wife, his children and all his possessions be sold to pay the debt. ²⁶ But the servant fell down before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ So out of pity for him, the master let him go and forgave the debt. ²⁸ “But as that servant was leaving, he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him some tiny sum. He grabbed him and began to choke him, crying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ ²⁹ His fellow servant fell before him and begged, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ ³⁰ But he refused; instead, he had him thrown in jail until he should repay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed; and they went and told their master everything that had taken place. ³² Then the master summoned his servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt just because you begged me to do it. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master turned him over to the jailers for punishment until he paid back everything he owed. ³⁵ This is how my heavenly Father will treat you, unless you each forgive your brother from your hearts.”

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The fifth spiritual checkpoint, “Walk In Forgiveness” is a difficult situation for many people who struggle with forgiving painful hurts, abuse, neglect, offenses from childhood, broken relationships, and the list goes on and on. Some people struggle with forgiving themselves for past mistakes, missed opportunities, and a plethora of other reasons. I will NOT focus on the cliches/common answers: “forgiveness is for you not the other person,” “let go and let G-d,” “I forgive you but I am not going to forget,” as I am sure you have heard them before. I do want to focus on forgiveness is an important aspect of our relationship with the Most High. Let’s start with all the things Our Heavenly Father has forgiven us for and is still forgiving us for daily. I took a few minutes to review the last few days and yes, I have asked for forgiveness multiple times related to this week’s blog posts (checked on my unfair treatment of the reviewer on my job earlier this week, thoughts in my heart brought to my attention by Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), having issues adjusting my vacation agenda to add a new class) just to name a few. We constantly ask for mercy and forgiveness ourselves from the Most High, and He grants it over and over. We are made and called to walk in the Most High’s image and likeness (cf. Genesis 1:26). Forgiveness is a part of that. Yeshua taught in the parable in Matthew 18 that we have to forgive our brothers and sisters repeatedly and have pity on them as G-d has pity on us. Forgiving others is required so that our Father can continue to forgive us (cf Matthew 6:14-15). This may be hard to process, yet it is crucial to do the work, whatever it takes to address the pain, emotions, bitterness, anger, or root of the unforgiveness, letting go and getting rid of whatever is necessary to get through to a place of forgiveness.

Yes, I know some things are much harder to forgive and some may require counseling, much prayer and fasting, and time for healing. What I want to point out in this part of your process is “HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE!” (I have asked for forgiveness for this book I DID NOT WRITE years ago when led). Please do not take this phrase or thought as an excuse for bad behavior and mistreatment. Take it as a lens to understand people’s actions, misdeeds, and behavior. For example, I am personally in relationship with someone who has been mistreated, and has not been loved by others, and they struggle with communication, withdrawal, and walking away from hard places. Sometimes maintaining the relationship becomes trying, but the Most High reminds me every time we hit a hard place that HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE! I was led to the person by G-d to help them get through this, and so I have to “put my feelings aside” to help them break this cycle. NO, it is not easy, but whether they ask for forgiveness or not, I forgive them; I keep loving them, take them back every time they return (me:modeling desired behavior and attitude), and pray to stay in the right posture with them, and most importantly stay in right alignment with the Most High. This takes work! My Bishop has shared about this similar pattern I had when I started working with him, and he did the same for me, a few times! I see this opportunity with the person as my way of paying it forward. Bishop’s forgiveness, patience, love, and support is now a model I can follow in this situation because of how he treated me. All relationships require work!

Similarly, the Messiah took time with His disciples, He even told them about their faults, encouraged them when they needed it, called Judas, His betrayer, friend, and while dying on the cross He asked the Father to forgive them for they did not know what they were doing (cf Luke 23:34); we have to do just the same! Yeshua told His followers in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” That’s forgiveness and love at its greatest capacity! And we must obey this commandment.

Finally, the true nature of forgiveness is restored relationship and reconciliation. I am aware that in some instances the relationship with the other person ends, but if it is supposed to be a continuous relationship like our relationship with the Most High is a permanent one, we need to always work towards that goal of restored fellowship. Why? Because the Kingdom is a fitly joined together body of believers in Messiah Yeshua with all the parts equally concerned for all the others. (cf. 1 Corinthians 12). We really do need each other to survive. In the past two weeks, I have said this at least 10 times, “You never know who you will need, who will give you your last cup of water, who will help you in your time of need.”

Beloved, this topic is heavy, and I will revisit it again next week. For now, if you are struggling with unforgiveness toward someone else or yourself, pray with me right now, “Father, I am struggling with unforgiveness (and say any emotions or related bitterness, rage, anger, hatred, violent assertiveness, slander, or whatever Holy Spirit whispers), and I know this unforgiveness is hindering my relationship with you Father, weighing heavy in my heart, and blocking Your forgiveness toward me. Abba, please help me to release every offense and extend the same mercy and forgiveness You have shown me. Amen.”

If you said that prayer, I am believing with you that the process has begun. And if tears are flowing that is a beginning of the healing and cleansing taking place.

The Sabbath is approaching, and the day produces of itself. I am looking forward to all the breakthroughs and miracles experienced on this Shabbat from those who prayed the prayer, and for my fellow servants who earnestly seek to live peaceably with all our brothers and sisters, and walk in forgiveness and love.

Shalom Aleichem Beloved❤️🙏🏽