Today’s scripture: Matthew 18:21-35 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (E’sha Cooper):
In the course of a day, how many times would you say that you do the “right” thing? If you’re tempted to lie do you generally not? If you get the opportunity to get some extra change from a purchase do you let the cashier know that you got too much? If your normal m.o. (method of operation) is to do these kind of things, then good for you. Don’t mean to burst your spiritual bubble, however, that’s just scratching the surface when it comes to doing things God’s way. Here’s what I think God is asking of us.
In today’s reading Jesus tells a parable about a wicked servant who was forgiven of a major debt by his master, but he would not release a friend of his who owed him not even a 1% of what he owed his master. So we know that he didn’t even do the right thing by just releasing his friend. That was just plain wrong. The right thing for this servant to do was to release his friend of the debt because he had been released of his, but there is something more.
Peter ask Jesus how many times should he forgive a brother who has wronged him, and Peter suggests seven times because that was considered the “right “ thing to do. Jesus, however, challenges that idea of right by saying,” Not seven, rather seventy times seven.” We know that 70 x 7 = 490, but I don’t believe that exact number he wanted us to strive for. Rather, we should do things on such a major and distinct level that people recognize the God in you. The Bible tells us to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1), and according to Psalm 103 this is how GOD works out this forgiveness thing:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (KJV)
First God forgives us, then God heals the places in us that cause us to sin, then God stops the consequences that come with the sins we’ve committed, then God rewards us as if we have never done anything wrong, then God imparts to us spiritual food and blessings so we can start manifesting a godly harvest and then God even turns back time, so that we can bask and rejoice in God’s goodness. HALLEJUAH!
Now if the servant had wanted to take the path of righteousness, he probably could have forgiven his friend immediately when he asked and then gave him $20. That is the righteousness that GOD delights in. When our righteousness catapults us above just doing good works, to doing the right thing where we are actually doing things that void common sense but make God sense, then we can boldly say, ”I look and act just like my Father.”
Prayer for the day: JEHOVAH JIREH (The God Who Provides), provide me daily with opportunities to imitate You by acting righteously. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.