Choosing Forgiveness When it's Hard - Your Nightly Scripture - August 19th
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Choosing Forgiveness When It’s Hard
Evening Scripture
Matthew, Chapter 18
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Evening Reflection
C.S. Lewis once wrote: “Everyone says that forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” Forgiveness can be challenging because it naturally pushes us past what is comfortable. When we are hurt or offended, we may decide we don’t want to forgive the person; We may even say they don’t deserve it. Perhaps this is why Peter asks how many times we should forgive. Forgiveness, after all, doesn’t make a lot of earthly sense.
How often have we asked that same question: how many times should I forgive? Is there a moment when we can legitimately not forgive someone? Is there ever a time when someone works their way out of this grace?
The response that Jesus gives to this question undercuts the belief that forgiveness is somehow calculable or limited. Jesus says to Peter, and to us, that forgiveness isn’t based on the size of, or the number of, faults. In fact, forgiveness isn’t based in ourselves at all; it is rooted in the merciful love of God. The basis of our forgiveness of others, no matter how challenging it may be to us, is Jesus’ forgiveness of our sins. And, happily, Jesus didn’t stop forgiving after one infraction. He didn’t refuse to forgive after 3 times, or 7 instances, or 77 sins; Jesus’ forgiveness of us is endless – because his heart of compassionate grace is endless.
As you turn to rest this night, ask yourself: Is there someone you are called to forgive? That could even be yourself. And if forgiveness is a challenge for you, one that you haven’t been able to get over, then start by opening yourself to the forgiveness that Jesus offers you. Allow his forgiveness, that free forgiveness that is so extravagant that it may sound ridiculous – to come in and wash over you. And then, when you have fully accepted that forgiveness, turn it outwards.
Evening Prayer
Jesus,
I praise you for the forgiveness that blankets me this night. As I rest my body, I know that I rest my soul in your grace. I claim your promise that there is nothing in my life that will ever overcome your desire to redeem me, to bless me, and to forgive me.
I know there have been times when I have been tempted to count the number of chances people get; I have even been tempted to see another person as undeserving of the gift you so freely gave me. Lord, give me the boldness to choose forgiveness when it challenges me; for when I choose forgiveness, I choose you. This I pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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