Devotionals for August 17, 2022
We have Theology Thursdays from 12:00-1:00pm this week! Come and be part of it!
READ
MATTHEW 18:21-30
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
REFLECT
The amount of debt the king forgave was a lifetime of debt. Yet the servant — though forgiven such a weighty debt — refused to forgive the much smaller debts of other servants. This powerful parable is a warning to the followers of Christ not to be unforgiving like the servant. Rather, we are to be generous in compassion like the king.
APPLY
Q: Why do you think the servant turned so quickly against his fellow servants even though he had experienced such lavish mercy?
Q: What are those tiny debts you’re unwilling to forgive others? How can you pour out generous mercy and love like the king in the parable?
Q: Imagine a world where all debt was forgiven and released! Though you can’t control the financial debt of the world, how can you share more generous compassion with others today?
Q: What are those tiny debts you’re unwilling to forgive others? How can you pour out generous mercy and love like the king in the parable?
Q: Imagine a world where all debt was forgiven and released! Though you can’t control the financial debt of the world, how can you share more generous compassion with others today?
SING
PRAY
"Give us today our daily bread."
Lord, you are my bread of life and have provided all my physical and spiritual needs! Above all, your Son has poured out His life as an offering so I can live. Help me to love and forgive as you have forgiven. Amen.
Lord, you are my bread of life and have provided all my physical and spiritual needs! Above all, your Son has poured out His life as an offering so I can live. Help me to love and forgive as you have forgiven. Amen.