April 7th, 2019
Devotional
“Forgiving” -
Matthew 18: 21-35
Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com
Monday: “Forgive” - Matthew 18: 21-35
Part of life is being hurt. Its an ugly, but true fact. But this is not how God imagined or wanted life to be for us. Emotional hurts are a direct result of Adam and Eve disobeying God, they are a consequence of free will, and stumbling into sin. God wants us to repent of the harm that we cause others (which we will be discussing more next week) and wants us to seek to forgive others for the pain that they cause us, though this is often easier said than done.
Because the world we live in is filled with brokenness, forgiveness is essential to life. In fact, if we do not forgive, we often perpetuate the cycle of hurting others. But as Christians we believe that Jesus taught us a counter-cultural way to live by both his example and teachings on forgiveness. Jesus ultimately did as he taught, forgiving even the people who called for him to be crucified and those who mocked and beat him as he hung on the cross. He suffered pain and humiliation that is hard for many of us to even fathom, yet he asked God to forgive those gathered around the cross that day. And he forgave his disciples even though they turned their backs on him, only one staying by his side as he died. But Jesus also calls us as his followers to live into his example of forgiving others, even asking the disciples to go to the very ends of the earth announcing the forgiveness of sins. However, we know the actual act of forgiveness can be unspeakably difficult at times.
Do you find forgiveness easy or difficult? Why?
Prayer: God, we know that you call us to the way of forgiveness, yet, O Lord, at times it can be so difficult. Be with us this week as we examine who you are calling us to forgive and give us the strength to do so. We pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.
Tuesday: “The Kingdom” -Matthew 18: 23-27, Matthew 6: 14-15
One of Jesus’s first teachings to the disciples about forgiveness came as part of the Lord’s prayer, which he repeated throughout his time on earth - “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”. We pray this prayer together each and every Sunday, 52 weeks a year. But have you let those words capture your soul? Do we mean what we pray? We are asking God to forgive us as we, or in the same way, that we forgive others. Thats powerful. How would God respond to you if you are being judged in the exact manner that you judge others? Would God quickly forgive you? Hold a grudge? Try to let things go, but find that they keep coming up in your mind and spirit?
How does the Lord’s Prayer transform your life?
Prayer: Lord, as we look at the parable of the King this day, we see with new eyes how you have forgiven us. O Lord, we want to share this forgiveness with others. Show us the way, dear Lord, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday: “100 Denarii” - Matthew 18: 28-29
God does not judge us as we judge others, but I think if we let the Lord’s Prayer transform us from the inside out, if we mean what we pray, then we will be more prone to forgive. But I also think that one of the reasons we are slow to forgive is because we don’t exactly know what forgiveness means or looks like in our daily lives. Even the best relationships in our lives have conflict. Most of the conflict are small things - irritations and disappointments - but if we don’t actively choose to forgive the small things, they often fester and infect our soul. Other conflicts are like boulders, weighing on us. But whether we have to make a decision about forgiving small or large conflicts, it boils down to the same basic question: are we going to choose justice or mercy?
What grudges do you notice that you hold on to?
Prayer: Lord, while the Lord’s Prayer calls us to a radical way of living, we confess that we do not always do so with grace. At times we hold on to bitterness and grudges. Free us from those things that have deep roots in our hearts that keep us from living your way and your truth. Amen.
Thursday: “Anna” - Matthew 18: 30, Col 3:13
At times justice may seem really appealing, so why would we choose mercy? Because God choose to show mercy to us - by offering us life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through his example, teachings, death and resurrection Jesus modeled for us what it looks like to love someone instead of seeking to punish them.
We also get confused because we don’t know what to do if we have a conflict with someone or if we have been wronged. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians he writes that we are to forgive whenever we have been wronged. But how is this possible? Especially when righteous anger seems to simmer inside of us? First, and most importantly, we are to pray for those who hurt us, bringing our pain before God. As you pray to God, remember your own shortcomings. Remember ways that you have harmed others in relationships, by doing so you may be more able to offer grace because of the grace you have been freely offered. As you pray, pray for the person by name. Pray that God blesses them, even in the midst of your hurt. Praying this type of prayer often helps us let go of our need, our right, for retribution and opens up our heart to offer mercy.
Do you find yourself wanting justice when you are wronged or showing mercy? Why?
Prayer: Lord, sometimes justice looks like it will be so sweet when we feel wronged, however, we know that justice is yours alone. So as we wait on you, O Lord, work in our hearts to learn anew how to forgive with grace and mercy. We pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
Friday: “Forgive from the Heart” -Matthew 18: 31-35
A few words of caution about approaching forgiveness. First, notice that you are talking to God about what you are struggling with about another person, not running first to share it with other people. Often we have a tendency to gather people in our corner when we feel we are wronged, as if we are preparing for battle. It just makes it easier to perpetuate hurt feelings and hide behind anger. Second, through this prayer, God may prompt you to sit down and talk to the person face to face. This is difficult, but is much better than telling everyone else about our problem instead of telling the person directly. But when we choose to show mercy, we shine forth the light and message of Christ, who forgave us.
Lastly, we are confused about what it means to continually forgive. I’ve heard every message there is about forgiveness from you need to be a doormat who allows people to mistreat you because its what Jesus would do, to you need to seek vengeance is the form of an eye for an eye, because its scriptural. But here, Jesus is telling Peter to continually forgive. To forgive more times then you could possibly remember. But this does not mean that we forget, or that there are not consequences to the pains that we face. Forgiveness is not the same as condoning. Sometimes people have hurt us so deeply that even after we choose to forgive them that we still must seek to rebuild trust.
What does forgiveness look like for you with flesh on it? In other words, how do you live into forgiveness in your daily life?
Prayer: Lord, forgiveness can sometimes be confusing and we confess that we sometimes do not do it well. Lord, next time we need to offer forgiveness prompt us to first come to you in prayer asking for your guidance and truth. Speak to our hearts, we pray. Amen.
Saturday: Preparing for the Word
You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Beginning Again” - Luke 7: 36-47
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