NIGERIAN BAPTIST CONVENTION SEEK DAILY (NBC) Friday, September 29 FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN

RBT: Zechariah 6-10

Memory Verse: In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart. Matthew 18: 34-35, NIV

Bible Text: Matthew 18:21-35

18:21 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?” 

18:22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 

18:23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 

18:24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 

18:25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 

18:26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 

18:27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 

18:28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 

18:29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 

18:30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 

18:31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 

18:32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 

18:33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 

18:34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

 

18:35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Janet was sexually abused by her uncle after the demise of her father. She later got married but had no child. She vowed never to forgive the uncle. She got converted and loved Jesus. After counselling and prayers, she realised that her unforgiving attitude could do more harm than good. She travelled to her uncle and made peace. That began the turnaround in her life and marriage. 

The above story is linked to the parable of the servant who was forgiven when he could not pay the money he owed; he begged his master and the debt was cancelled. Another servant owed him a lesser amount, but he refused to forgive the debt despite the debtor's plea. On hearing this, his master revoked the earlier forgiveness given to the merciless servant. 

As people of God, we are expected to forgive our fellow humans whatever offence committed against us as Paul advised in Ephesians 4:32: “…forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.” 

Is there any offence to be pardoned? Forgive, so that you can be forgiven.

Insight: Release whoever you have locked up in your heart as a result of unforgiveness.

Prayer: Help me, LORD, to forgive so that I can also receive forgiveness in Jesus' name.