Today’s message may perhaps be one of the hardest for us to read. It exposes us for who we are. I know that I cringe when I see how miserably I fail at what we will look at today. It stems from how we are to treat each other, even when they don’t deserve our kindness. Especially when they don’t deserve our forgiveness.
“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22 ESV).
Jesus then goes on to illustrate what He means. And when we hear His parable, it makes us uncomfortable. Sure, we understand it intellectually, but when we start to see how we must apply it, we see just how radical He is calling us to live. And what He asks, what He expects, is not easy at all.
A certain king had a servant who owed him 10000 talents. For reference, this amount was equal to about 165,000 years of wages. And the man could not repay. So, the king ordered the man to be put into prison and to sell all that he had, so that the king could get whatever losses he could recoup.
“So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.” (Matthew 18:26-27 ESV).
What compassion! What grace! And you would think that this servant would be a changed man after receiving this life-changing gift. But we know the story. And if the truth be told, it probably sounds a lot like our story, doesn’t it? We have received from our God forgiveness of a debt that is far heavier than 10000 talents.
“But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.” (Matthew 18:28-30 ESV).
After receiving a life-redeeming gift of grace, this wicked servant shows no compassion to a fellow servant who owed him a miniscule amount. And when the news got back to the king about his lack of compassion, in anger, the king threw him into prison to be tortured until his 165,000 years’ worth of debt was repaid.
Here is where this gets hard. If we have received the Lord’s gift of salvation, freely forgiving us a debt so big that we could never repay, do we continually pay that grace forward to our fellow man? Do we hold the sins of our spouses over them with no mercy? Do we make sure that our brother, who betrayed us, is constantly reminded of his infraction? Do we withhold our forgiveness from those who purposely hurt us or hurt someone we love? Is there anyone that we refuse to forgive?
What Jesus was teaching to Peter, and to us, is that we must pay forward to others the grace God has shown to us. Forgiveness is not about someone being worthy of it; but like us, it is offered even when someone is unworthy of it. Especially when they are unworthy of it. Sometimes it hurts to forgive this way, doesn’t it? But I suppose it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as it hurt Jesus on the cross when he forgave us.
I'm really looking forward to heaven. Having that destination in mind helps me make it through anything life decides to throw at me.
As much as Satan would have me lose hope, and give up right outside the gate, I know my Savior will carry me over the threshold and that my hope will become realized.
Keep the faith and let God do the heavy lifting in your life today. You've got this.
Here are ten things I am not ashamed to admit I believe:
1. If there was a big bang, it occurred as the result of God instantaneously speaking things into existence a few thousand years ago.
2. There was a flood that covered every mountain over the entire globe. A large boat saved 8 people and two of every kind of land animal.
3. God kept three men alive in the midst of giant kiln of fire so hot that the guards who escorted them burned to death before reaching it.
4. God once stopped the sun at the request of a man and even made it go backwards in the sky another time.
5. God left heaven, poured Himself into the body of a baby, and lived a perfect life among His creation.
6. He paid my debt of sin by taking my place when He was executed on a cross.
7. He draws a line in the sand with Satan by not allowing me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear.
8. He has gone to His Father's house to prepare my home with Him.
9. He now sits on a throne with everything that exists firmly under His authority.
10. He will return to bring me home with Him or raise me from the dead to meet him in the sky if I should die first.
Having gone through Covid and gall bladder surgery within the span of a month, it has helped me learn something about prayer. While I pray for healing from God, I end my prayer, “But let what best glorify You be done.” I have never felt such contentment in illness before. I love Jesus for better or worse, for richer or poorer, and in sickness and in health. It's been a long road for Jesus to get me to this point and I am so grateful He didn't give up on me.
Another week is upon us. We go to battle with the evil one. Did you fill up on God yesterday to help you in the fight?
I humbly suggest that you begin each day with prayer and Bible reading. Put good in to help keep the bad out.
Don't wait until the battle for your soul gets tough this week. Make plans at the beginning of each day to arm yourself.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV).
When you make the shift from creating expectations based on what you want God to do for you, to wanting God to be glorified through you, you will never be disappointed as His child.
This is a life-changing paradigm shift.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV).