Devotional thoughts for Monday

Monday 27. October 2014 

Trinity 19

Therefore, the reign of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. (Matthew 18,23) 

Jesus told this parable to teach his disciples about the nature of forgiveness. We often view forgiveness in terms of the law: I will forgive you a certain number of times, and once that limit is reached I will no longer forgive you. 

This is totally different from how God views forgiveness. God approaches forgiveness in terms of the gospel: I will forgive you as many times as you need forgiveness. It does not matter if the debt is small or large, God forgives us over, and over and over again. Every day. Every year. Every decade. From the moment of our birth until we are lowered in the grave, God forgives all our sin. His grace and mercy have no limits or bounds. 

Jesus teaches His disciples to view forgiveness the same way. We should willingly and gladly forgive those who sin against us. We should not hold a grudge against them. It is as Jesus teaches in the Lord's Prayer: forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Forgiveness and grace have no limit. 

Prayer: O God, our Refuge and Strength, the Author of all godliness, hear the devout prayer of Your Church, especially in times of persecution, and grant that what we ask in faith we may obtain; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.  Amen. (A77, Treasury of Daily Prayer)