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Forgive Others
Andrea Lende • August 7, 2020
Matthew 18:21-22
Forgive Others
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Forgive-Others-ehpsq5
Daily Word:
Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times?”
“Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!”
As emotions run high in these current days, forgiveness is so necessary.
Not just for the person being forgiven, but for the one offering forgiveness as well.
When we offer forgiveness, we release whatever pain the other person caused us.
We are then open to receive peace and beauty.
Peace is abundant if we open up the pathways to be able to receive it.
Giving grace to one another is essential as well.
Everyone is feeling overwhelmed and discouraged in some area of their lives.
We must understand that people’s actions mimic their feelings.
So, behavior becomes unpredictable even for ourselves.
People who have done well in life up until this pandemic may not be doing well now.
We cannot assume that our friends who usually let things roll off their shoulders are handling all of the changes and restrictions well.
We cannot assume anything, really.
And the unknown is very difficult for so many of us.
Grace is undeserved favor therefore people don’t have to be deserving of grace to receive it.
We must offer it even to the undeserving.
The scripture for today really resounded with me because if there was ever a need to offer forgiveness and grace it is now.
As we look at the scripture today, the number seven in the Bible is a symbol of perfection and completeness.
The number seven was used seven times as God created this world.
So, Jesus says, forgive seventy times seven times.
I interpret this to mean we need to offer complete and total forgiveness – and offer it often.
This is not the time to be stingy with forgiveness.
As I read these two verses today, I saw them in a totally different way than I had seen them before.
Today I choose to offer forgiveness and grace to those in need of it as I am in need of it as well.
May you find that as you offer forgiveness and grace to those around you will find a relief and release that brings peace to your soul.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for a wonderful reminder to offer forgiveness. Thank You that Your Word gives meaning to the word forgiveness. As Jesus told us to forgive “seventy times seven”, He was telling us to forgive completely. Help us forgive those around us, Father. Help us also forgive people far and wide. Please touch our spirits so that we harbor no ill will and our forgiveness will, ultimately provide us peace. Help us give grace, Lord, as we all navigate these difficult times. Soften our hearts so that we are able to see the pain in others. And then help us go to their aid and meet their needs. Strengthen each of us today, Father. Keep us from temptation and from hurting others. May You put joy into our hearts as we go about the tasks of this day. Help us bless someone today. Thank You for hearing our prayer.
Answer: I AM with you and all My children and will strengthen you for this day and all days.
Response: Thank You, Almighty God and Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.