(Luke 17:3-4) “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
(Matthew 6:14) For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
(Matthew 18:23-35) “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we be on guard (Lk.17:3)
- that if a fellow believer sins, rebuke them (Lk.17:3)
- that we forgive others for their transgressions (Mt.6:14, Lk.17:3)
- that we forgive others no matter how many times they transgress (Lk.17:4)
- that we exercise God's grace to our fellow believers or suffer consequences (Mt.18:32-35)
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your example of love, forgiveness and grace. May we exercise Your love and grace towards each other. As we help keep fellow believers accountable for their actions, may we do so without jumping all over mistakes made. But being on guard, help us to discern sinful actions which are done defiantly. Guide us in wisdom as to how to speak to that fellow believer, in private, with lovingkindness.
Help us not to keep count of the times they sin against us and then apologize. When wronged, and the person apologizes, help us to truly forgive them in order to fully reconcile so that we may continue on without bitterness or strife, but in fellowship and unity. Amen.
(Matthew 6:14) For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
(Matthew 18:23-35) “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we be on guard (Lk.17:3)
- that if a fellow believer sins, rebuke them (Lk.17:3)
- that we forgive others for their transgressions (Mt.6:14, Lk.17:3)
- that we forgive others no matter how many times they transgress (Lk.17:4)
- that we exercise God's grace to our fellow believers or suffer consequences (Mt.18:32-35)
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your example of love, forgiveness and grace. May we exercise Your love and grace towards each other. As we help keep fellow believers accountable for their actions, may we do so without jumping all over mistakes made. But being on guard, help us to discern sinful actions which are done defiantly. Guide us in wisdom as to how to speak to that fellow believer, in private, with lovingkindness.
Help us not to keep count of the times they sin against us and then apologize. When wronged, and the person apologizes, help us to truly forgive them in order to fully reconcile so that we may continue on without bitterness or strife, but in fellowship and unity. Amen.
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