The Father's Forgiveness - Verse of the Week Devotional
This is a sobering thought!
Forgiveness isn't only about the one who has sinned against us, it's about us too!
Forgiveness expresses the mercy and grace of our Father. God has forgiven us all of so much. How then can we withhold forgiveness from others?
Jesus illustrated this perfectly in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant found in Matthew 18:21-35.
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
This is a stern warning from our Lord! As Children of God, we are called to follow in the footsteps of Christ. We cannot dwell in peace when we hold unforgiveness against our brother or sister. It’s not always easy, but we MUST forgive. We cannot compare ourselves to others and say, we are better than our neighbor. Our standard is not our fellow man but God Himself. We have ALL fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and are all in need of His mercy and forgiveness.
When we find it difficult to forgive, we bring can it to our heavenly Father to soften our hearts, recall His grace and mercy in His forgiveness of our many sins.
