We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. You are welcome to share this and include in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you! :)
Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35 (The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant)
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.”
Devotional Thought
When we were kids, we were taught to say please, thank you, sorry, I forgive you, etc.
This happened because our parents wanted us to understand that whether we feel like it or not, we have to be nice - after all, what we do affects others; we live and interact with other people; we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
The challenge as we grow up is that we discover that we don’t have to be nice all the time, especially to those who wrong us. But we are still part of something bigger than ourselves and everything that we do affects others.
We are forgiven, with all of our shortcomings and limitations. Not only forgiven, but also called into a relationship with God.
If we allow the love of God to transform us we will see that the lessons that we learned long ago are no longer just about being nice, but it is about understanding that we are all humans and all deserving of love… The same love that was extended to us by our Heavenly Father.
Prayer
Lord, we pray that You will help us to extend this love in which we have been touched, and that relationships will be restored, and we will learn how to forgive and be forgiven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Andre Santos
Property Manager/ Student of NTC
Nazarene Theological College