Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
November 3, 2022
Read Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times. 23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, they brought to him a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold. 25 Because the servant didn’t have enough to pay it back, the master ordered that he should be sold, along with his wife and children and everything he had, and that the proceeds should be used as payment. 26 But the servant fell down, kneeled before him, and said, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ 27 The master had compassion on that servant, released him and forgave the loan. 28 “When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred coins. He grabbed him around the throat and said, ‘Pay me back what you owe me.’ 29 “Then his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he threw him into prison until he paid back his debt. 31 “When his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply offended. They came and told their master all that happened. 32 His master called the first servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you appealed to me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 His master was furious and handed him over to the guard responsible for punishing prisoners until he had paid the whole debt. 35 “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if you don’t forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Good Morning, Love one another!
We are forgiven! Our God is an awesome God who forgives us when we ask for forgiveness. When we turn our backs and walk away, God is patiently waiting for us to return. When I think of forgiveness, I think of the parable of the prodigal son. The father who has been wronged and even embarrassed by his son is waiting with open arms when he hears that he is on his way home. God awaits all who are ready to repent and ask for forgiveness.
How are we doing in the forgiveness business? I imagine that we have room to improve. It’s easy to forgive small or unimportant things, but what about those big acts? It is hard to forgive those we think are in the wrong. When we start our conversation with words like he/she shouldn’t have done that, we have yet to forgive them. Even when we say the words “you are forgiven” we still harbor ill feelings within us. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a mind eraser where we could wipe out these thoughts?
God doesn’t just forgive us, he forgets our sins completely. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34 Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, our slate is wiped clean. In response to this great blessing, we are called to show mercy to others. In today’s passage, the servant is punished because he does not show mercy to someone who owes him money after he, himself, had received mercy.
We are all sinners, but when we confess our sins to God, our sins are forgotten. Be merciful and give mercy as graciously to all you meet.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We are a mess, yet You believe in the good within us. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I can forgive others because God forgave me first.
Forgive others, as you have been forgiven! Pastor Liz
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