Passage of the Day:
“If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times, Matthew 18:15-22.
Reflection:
Being charitable can take a toll on you emotionally. As a former youth pastor, some of my teenagers kept letting me down, time after time. However, as Peter asked Jesus following the portion of the Bible known as Church Discipline, forgiveness is a daily expectation for Christians. When you place conditions on charity or forgiveness, you limit your ability to love. The reason why Jesus responds with 70 X 7 is a call for His disciples to forgive an infinite number of times.
Prayerful Action:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins, Matthew 6:14-15.
Learning to love this December as God Loves You and I:
At the end of the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father, Jesus makes a shocking statement. Listeners in the crowd during the Sermon on the Mount might have been in a state of disbelief. Jesus clearly states that God’s forgiveness is conditional based upon how you forgive others. Jesus doesn’t give an escape clause such as “if someone breaks your heart then you don’t have to forgive.” Since this does not exist in the Bible, forgiving others is a daily charitable act. This is how you should love.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
If you try to be charitable and love in your own strength, you’ll likely fail. However, when you lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus, you can arise with a fresh start and inspiration to let the light of Christ shine through you.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 