February 28, 2014
Read Matthew 18:23-35
Jesus used a parable of hyperbole to drive home the point about forgiving others. In our terms today, imagine someone owing the government over a million dollars in unpaid taxes. After much pleading and begging, the IRS said, “Your tax penalty is forgiven. You owe nothing.” Now that is a miracle! Then this person finds a neighbor who owes him two hundred dollars. The neighbor does not have it right then, so he has him taken to court or worse calls the IRS with an anonymous tip that this neighbor needs to be investigated.
Ridiculous. When you have $1,000.000.00 in debt that you could never pay simply removed from the books by a merciful debtor, how outrageous it would be to not extend mercy to those who ask.
Do we have a human right to hold a grudge sometimes? Yes. Do we deserve death and eternal separation from a holy and righteous/just God? Yes. God forgives our debts as we forgive those indebted to us.
“I forgive you.” Second only to “I love you” as the most powerful words in the universe. Use these words and see what happens.
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