Daily Devotional, Friday, May 7, 2021
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
Jesus taught that we must forgive those who hurt us – seventy times seven. You would have to be really accurate and patient to record 490 offenses by one person.
Jesus, as was His tradition, decided to use a parable to expand and deepen the lesson, as recorded in Matthew 18:21-35.
A king writes of billions of dollars in debt that one servant owes. The forgiven chap later has a debtor, who owes him a smaller amount, thrown into jail till the latter pays the debt.
Word reaches the king. He is outraged. He orders the selfish, cruel fellow be thrown into jail until he can pay the debt that had been forgiven.
The moral of the story? “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18: 35).
How many times have you gone on your knees to beg God for forgiveness? Seventy times? Seventy times seven? Has God ever turned you away?
Now, is there someone who is pleading for your forgiveness? How about that individual you don’t want to see because he / she hurt you so much? Are there grudges you need to get rid of?
God says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13).
God directs that you bear with those who hurt you. He commands that you forgive others just as the Lord keeps forgiving you. Because God forgives you, forgive those who offend you.
Jesus, thank you for always forgiving me. Help me to forgive those who hurt me.
We are fond of recording number of times people wrong us but we don’t care how many times we wrong those people and God.
We want God to forgive us but we don’t want to forgive others.
How can this work?
Let’s come back to our senses.
I have learnt the art of humanity….that aas much as i am always quick in asking to be pardoned every time when i wrong God….so should I be when i get offended by others
Asante sana elder
Tough questions there, Duncan. Let’s embrace Christ’s command, however painful to our egos.
Well-put, Felix. God expects no less from us. We must forgive others.
Amen,may we forgive as we get forgiven.
Unless we forgive, we will not be forgiven. Thank you for your comment, Kiohi.
Ii now know forgiveness has no limit neither boundaries and I have forgiven those offended me
Amen, Rogers. May God bless you for that resolution. I’ve missed your comments here. Welcome back
Lord help us forgive one another just as you forgive us.
Amen. Let’s learn to forgive others
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