21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often ywill my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? zAs 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 ato settle accounts with his servants.7 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him bten thousand ctalents.8 25 dAnd since he could not pay, his master ordered him eto be sold, with his wife and fchildren and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant9 gfell 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 dforgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundredhdenarii,10 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 iAnd should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 jAnd in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,11 kuntil he should pay all his debt. 35 lSo also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother mfrom your heart.”
Look at how the Lord Jesus deals with people that wrong each other. He tells them to forgive seventy times seven!! Then the passage goes on to talk about after we are forgiven, and I think about being forgiven by our great God, but we all have experienced the grace of a friend or family member forgiving us as well... and yet we still have such a hard time letting go of past hurts.God wants to free us from our past, and wants us to shower each other with this gift of forgiveness and life giving grace toward each other as well. In church this last week our pastor spoke about grace. We have all been given so so much grace. The heavenly father showers us with it.
I live in a sin filled world. I need not worry if I will be hurt, or if I will hurt others. It is going to happen! It all boils down to the choice I make to show, and even allow myself to experience grace. Interesting how allowing grace to cover can be just as hard, if not a bit harder to handle, than giving it at times. I need to learn to humble myself and allow the Lord first to show me His grace that is new every morning, accept it as a gift undeserved, but then give it, and quickly, to the people He places in my life.
Thank you Lord for your freedom. Teach me to understand grace more as I accept and apply it. Show me ways today that I can choose to be life giving and grace filled. Show me your spirit move as you teach me how to give grace.
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