Tag: Forgiveness

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Trust Comes with Accountability

SEPTEMBER 11

MATTHEW 7:3_And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

In Jesus’ Matthew chapter 18 (KJV) parable, the wicked servant was more consumed with the penny owed him than the million plus he owed.

There is more here than money, there’s mercy.  Oh, that we were consumed with mercy!

A debtor is expected to pay a legal debt. Trust comes with accountability. God, who searches and knows all hearts, has the privilege to have mercy—even to the legitimately guilty.

Read again verses “26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’ 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”    

The wicked servant could only see the wrong which was done to him. He could not see the mercy he had freely received. “29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’ 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.”

He could not see mercy because : where his treasure was there was his heart also.

PRAYER

King of All Kings, Let me see my beam more than my brother’s mote. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                   

Christ sees my beams—He will help me see them!

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Boomeranged!

SEPTEMBER 9

MATTHEW 7:2_it shall be measured to you again.

Jesus teaches the measurement of judgment we pass out is the measure by which we’ll be judged.

Jesus’ parable in Matthew 18 (KJV), “23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’ 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me that thou owest.’ 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’ 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.”

In the end the king calls back the wicked servant and turns him over to the tormentors.

The wicked servant’s hard heart boomeranged!

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Help me know my judgmental attitude will come back to me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                   

Christ’s wise judgment—How I judge, I will be judged!

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Poor Judgment

SEPTEMBER 8

MATTHEW 7:2_and with what measure ye mete…

Poor judgment makes no allowance for mistakes of others. When punishment has been received for mistakes, and grief expressed, yet all doors are closed to the offenders, watch out for poor judgment.     

This type of judgment causes great damage to offenders. They are bound to the bondage of worthlessness and lack of self-esteem, because that is exactly how they are judged. Bondages are always from the devil. Freedom is always from God.

The devil carefully works his plan making sure both the offenders and the ones who permanently judge, are in bondage. The offenders are constantly bombarded with the devil’s whispers, “You can’t do anything right. You’ll never be any good. You’re just a bad person. No one will ever give you an opportunity because everyone knows all about you. There is no need to try. Even if you do something right, they’ll say it is wrong—just because you did it!”

The ones passing judgment are also bombarded with the devil’s accusations against the offenders, “Just because they’ve been punished doesn’t mean they should have another chance. They messed things up before and will again. It’s best to keep them at a distance. They have lost the privilege of being trusted.” 

PRAYER

God of Mercy,  You have forgiven and helped me, let me do the same for others. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                    

Christ knows how to love everyone—He will help me!

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Free Souls

SEPTEMBER 4

MATTHEW 7:1_Judge not…

The kind of freedom Jesus teaches is not about keeping out of prison (although Jesus’ type of freedom could save you from that). Jesus wants to free souls.

A free soul gains wisdom.

Therefore a free soul has the ability to make wise decisions.

Wise decisions save from many forms of harm.

Wisdom is able to forgive and not carry the baggage of bitterness which so often leads to physical sickness. 

The wisest man who ever lived, the phenomenal King Solomon, teaches this principle in Proverbs 2:10-13 (KJV), “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness.”

Notice where wisdom enters—your heart. There is more to learn – Proverbs 4:7-9 (KJV), “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”

PRAYER

God of Wisdom, Help me be free from judgment and make wise decisions. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                   

Christ is wisdom—He wants me to learn to be wise!

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A Constant Guest in the Box

JUNE 30

MATTHEW 6:15_Neither will your Father forgive your trespasses…

The unforgiveness box holds a variety of trespasses. The largest of the litter, betrayal, is an emotional trespass—a constant guest in the box. Emotional betrayal clings—very difficult to shake off.

Emotional trespass resists submission to peace. It does not want to forgive.

Emotions can be tender and gentle or wild and violent. Like a horse, they need a bit and bridle. James 3:3 (KJV), “Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.” The more out of control our emotions, the harder they are to manage. 

The central point of control and power is the heart. Rehearsing a trespass over and again in the heart makes a strong hold on emotions. The heart is bound by the trespass and cannot forgive.

On the other hand, a heart fed with the truths of Scripture is freed.

Psalm 32:8-9 (KJV),“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.’“.

PRAYER

God of Power, Please keep my heart under the control of Bible truths. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                           

Christ can control emotions—I want Him to control mine!