When wrong is done, the repentant heart begs for forgiveness and seeks for it to be given because they have regret and sorrow for what they have done. If someone is seeking forgiveness, we need to be willing and ready to hand it right over with grace and mercy because as soon as we don’t, then we might find ourselves in a situation where we need forgiveness too, and we want it to be freely given to us just as much. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus’ answer is not mathematical even though He says, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Jesus’ answer is to forgive people as often as they ask for it (Matthew 18:21-22). They seek forgiveness, and they need a clean slate. Our response should be to give it to them no matter what because one day we will need it, too. It might be that very day or a week from then, but you will need the same grace one day. Forgive, and we will be forgiven (Matthew 6:15).
Jesus then tells the story of a man who owed his king a tremendous debt. After begging, pleading, and throwing himself on the ground, the man requested patience from whom he owed the debt. The king gives it to him, but then, as soon as he is finished, he runs out and finds someone who owes him money (a small amount), grabs him by the throat, and begins choking him. This other man begs for patience from his debtor, but the man is unwilling and instead throws him in prison until he can pay it back. When the other slaves saw and heard about what happened, they told their Lord everything. Then, the king tells the man, who was forgiven but unwilling to forgive, that he is a “wicked slave.” The king says he should have had mercy on his fellow slave in the same way that he received mercy. The king then delivers the wicked slave over to the torturers until he can pay back everything that he originally owed. Jesus concludes this story by saying, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35).
We need a clean slate over and over and over again with each other. If we are not willing to give it, what makes us think that God is willing to give us a clean slate over and over and over again?
Let’s seek forgiveness a clean slate, but let’s also be people willing to give forgiveness and a clean slate. Don’t back each other up into a corner, creating a false reality of no way out or hope for the future. Degrading and making each other feel worthless. Forgive and be forgiven.
Then, let’s all try to do better. Let’s be better than we were yesterday. Let’s make improvements, repent of sin, ask for forgiveness, and seek to serve.
For the Lord,
Alexander Mills