Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle accounts, they brought to him a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold.Because the servant didn’t have enough to pay it back, the master ordered that he should be sold, along with his wife and children and everything he had, and that the proceeds should be used as payment. But the servant fell down, kneeled before him, and said, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’The master had compassion on that servant, released him, and forgave the loan.  “When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred coins. He grabbed him around the throat and said, ‘Pay me back what you owe me.’ “Then his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’But he refused. Instead, he threw him into prison until he paid back his debt. “When his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply offended. They came and told their master all that happened. His master called the first servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you appealed to me. Shouldn’t you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ His master was furious and handed him over to the guard responsible for punishing prisoners, until he had paid the whole debt.  Matthew 18:23-34

A STORY

One day, God permits me to stand on the edge of heaven. I see the breathtaking landscapes, but above all, I see the LORD in all His radiant glory. I cannot look at Him because I am unclean in His presence. I cry out above the volume of the angelic worshipers.  

“Lord, my sin!  I want to be with You but I am a condemned woman and have no access to Your kingdom.” 

“What if I forgave everything you’ve ever done against me?” He asked.

“Would You really wipe away every single offense?” The thought is too outrageous. Seeing the great chasm between us, I feel hopeless that such forgiveness exists. 

I ask again in desperation. “If Your love really is that great, please forgive me. I repent of all that I’ve done to sin against You.”

Jesus approaches and whispers softly, “I forgive You and declare You holy, Christine. One day soon, You will come and live with me here. It’s a sure thing.” Overcome by His grace, I return to my life with new hope.

However, some time passes, and a trusted friend sells me out without a moment’s hesitation. The hurt feels jarring ~ it’s deeply personal, plunging me into a painful abyss of sorrow and righteous outrage. The act of treachery feels incomprehensible, and no matter how hard I try to understand why such evil was done against me, I find no answers. I hear the Lord whisper in my ear, “Forgive them, as I forgave you. Reflect on the enormity of your previous offenses against Me and how much I loved you then, and love you now!”

Yet, I struggle to recall my past transgressions with clarity. My fury towards the traitor clouds my perspective, and I yearn for quick retribution. I say to myself, “I will cut him off, strike back with choice words, making him regret his actions until he is sorry enough.” 

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The severity of someone else’s sin against me is insignificant in comparison to the judgment I would have encountered for my own transgressions against God. The secret to forgiving freely, just as Jesus forgave me, lies in remembering His extravagant mercy. Jesus said it this way, “He who has been forgiven little loves little. But he who has been forgiven much, loves much.” 

Oh Savior, show me once again where I would be without Your atonement. Amen.