MATTHEW 18:23–35; COLOSSIANS 3:13
To assist with an event setup, I got to church early. At the other end of the sanctuary, a woman was sobbing. I swiftly used a vacuum cleaner to drown out her sobbing because she had previously been nasty to me and spread rumours about me. If someone does not like me, why should I care?
The Holy Spirit reminded me of God’s forgiveness, and I went to her. She told me about her hospitalised baby. After overcoming differences, we became good friends as we prayed together.
In Matthew 18, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a king who settled his accounts. A servant who owed a large sum of money pleaded for mercy, but soon after, the servant found and condemned another who owed less. The servant’s unforgiving spirit led to his imprisonment, illustrating the consequences of unforgiveness.
Forgiveness does not condone sin or minimise hurt; it allows us to enjoy God’s mercy and invite Him to perform peace-restoring grace in our lives and relationships.
🙏 Lord, help us to forgive completely.
📷: Gus Moretta
