|  | Daily Bible Reflections Archive
 |
Theo Tigno•
8/10/2011 3:11 pm
Reply To Post
|
Thursday, August 11th 2011 |
Matthew 18:21-19:1
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."
Dawg's Thought:
Today's prayer intention - for those who are suffering with cancer.
It is amazing to think about being made in the image and likeness of God. In thinking about this, it is amazing to think that we are made in the image and likeness of a God Whose mercy goes beyond forgiving seven times.
For this I am grateful.
The gratitude flows from the fact that in my many mistakes ... my many faults ... I can trust in His mercy.
It is also humbling to think about being made in the image and likeness of God because of the responsibility what we bear in forgiving others. In forgiving others, we can discover on way in which we are made in the image and likeness of God. In forgiving others, we can also make known the merciful God Who forgives us our sins.
How can we, then, put a limit on the amount of times we are called to forgive? Wouldn't it be closing ourselves off to our responsibility to being made in the image and likeness of God? Wouldn't it be closing the door for others to encounter God through our ability to forgive?
One thing I have is a "pride" in denying that I have been wronged. At times, I will falsely say that there was no harm done. Yet, through pride, am I denying forgiveness to someone? Through pride, am I denying Who i am made in the image and likeness of? I cannot imagine a God Who says, "aw, don't worry about it; I wasn't offended." Instead, I know a God Who opened Himself to be crucified because of our sins. I know a God Who still bears the wounds of the crucifixion.
We are made in the image and likeness of God ... a God Whose mercy is endless. Let us be participants in bringing His endless mercy to a world that is too "politically correct" to admit that there are things that are offensive to God and to man.
Take care and God Bless.
|
|
| |
