Jesus offers abundant forgiveness and instructs his followers do to the same. How does our life show the abundant grace of God first given to us?
Worship this week:
Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel
Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship
Devotions for this week:
February 22, 2015 Forgiveness
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus often used parables to teach people about God and God’s kingdom. In today’s parable, Jesus taught that forgiving others makes sense in light of the abundant forgiveness God has extended to us. Jesus suggested that reconciliation is more important than being right. His suggestion to forgive 77 times was not to limit forgiveness to a specified number of times, but to suggest that we forgive an unlimited number of times.
Follow the parables and teachings of Jesus, as Jesus challenged followers to do more for God’s kingdom.
Sunday, Matthew 18:15-35, Forgiveness
Monday, Psalm 32:1-2, Psalm
Tuesday, Matthew 13:24-43, Parables of Jesus
Wednesday, Matthew 13:44-58, Parables of Jesus
Thursday, Matthew 14:1-12, Death of John the Baptist
Friday, Matthew 14:34-15:20, Teachings of Jesus
Saturday, Matthew 15:21-39, Teachings and Miracles of Jesus
- What is the kingdom of heaven like? How might Jesus’ parables be told using images from today?
- In our litigating society, how does culture view justice? How does it view forgiveness? What might happen if people practiced forgiveness over blame and the need for restitution?
- Who stands in need of your forgiveness? What would it take to make you ready to forgive?
Bless: Gracious and loving God, soften our hearts as we hear your word today. Give us the will and the power to be forgiving. Amen.