 | Devotion 5 Taken from Jesus' parable in Matthew 18: 23-35 v28: But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you? |
Today's thought from Tim Keller
Christians inwardly give up the desire to get even. To forgive is to give the perpetrator a gift they do not in any way deserve. While the perpetrator has been sinfully unfair to you, now you are mercifully unfair to them. You give them something not fair—it is better than fair. It is mercy. This “attitudinal forgiveness” is something you can do whether or not they have repented. It is a promise not to constantly bring the wrong up to others, to yourself internally, or to the perpetrator for the purpose of payback. It is a commitment to refrain from nursing your grudge and rooting for the person’s unhappiness. It is something you can do regardless of the behaviour of the perpetrator, for it is done in and from the heart.
Lord Jesus, may I be a vessel of God’s grace given by the work of your power.
To you be glory in my life, in the church and in Christ Jesus, to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.” (adapted from Ephesians 3: 7, 20)
To you be glory in my life, in the church and in Christ Jesus, to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.” (adapted from Ephesians 3: 7, 20)
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