“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this – WHILE we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV)
Has someone ever just really done you wrong? I’m talking one of those situations where it’s not an accident that someone hurt your feelings or walked away with something you wanted… I’m talking the intentional; they made a choice to do or not do – and you got stuck with the consequences of their decision.
Matthew 18:21-35 is an incredible story that starts with a question/answer between Peter and Jesus. A king brings in this man who owes him “10,000 talents” (one “talent” was worth about 15 years wages). So for the guy to be able to pay off his debt to the king it would have taken him OVER 150,000 YEARS.
The king forgives him the ENTIRE debt!!!! This same man leaves the generous king and goes to someone who only owes him 1 day’s wages and has the guy thrown into jail because he can’t pay it. Obviously the king does something about it when he finds out and he holds the man accountable.
As I read the story, I reflected on the truly generous nature of our Savior. We owe such a tremendous debt to Him that we could NEVER repay! .And I don’t always accidentally make mistakes that hurt Him. Sometimes, I flat out choose to make a sinful decision. And yet Romans 5:8 is still in the Bible – “But God demonstrates His love for us in this – WHILE we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Wow, amazing generosity – amazing grace.
It’s this same kind of generosity, mercy, and forgiveness that God wants us to extend to others when they have hurt us. Forgiving doesn’t mean acting like a wrong hasn’t occurred. Forgiving doesn’t mean keeping yourself in dangerous or unhealthy situations. Forgiveness isn’t just letting someone off the hook. That’s not what God does when He offers us forgiveness. God doesn’t act like my sin didn’t happened… The reason God can offer me forgiveness is because Jesus paid for it.
“Father, enable us to extend forgiveness to others because You have forgiven us.”
For His Glory
Terra DeMerchant – http://www.wordblooms.com
TRBC Women’s Life
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