IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

A Great Debt Lifted

Date: Jul. 22, 2021

Passage

Matthew 18:21-35 (ESV)

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 18:27

And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

Forgiveness may not come naturally to us, but it can come from our hearts when we reflect on God’s great mercy on us. God is the king who forgave his servant (me) 10,000 bags of gold. This was a debt I would have to work every day of my life to earn less than even a small fraction of the total. Canceling a debt of this magnitude is amazing grace! What a relief! This gives us the awesome freedom to live and enjoy life in a relationship of love and gratitude with God, our King. Jesus came to reveal to us that, indeed, this debt of ours is paid in full.

God desires mercy, not sacrifice. Life is not meant to be an endless proving ground of our worthiness, but to live in appreciation of the life given to us. We must accept this grace and extend this mercy to our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness may seem counterintuitive at first, but as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Forgiveness, when it comes from our heart, has the power to heal and give life. We should never cease to have mercy on our brothers and sisters.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, I once thought of you as a demanding king, but in Jesus I see your love and mercy has given me true freedom and life. May I live my life in gratitude and extend forgiveness and mercy to my brothers and sisters.

One Word: One Word: Forgive from your heart

Daily Bread

David’s Royal Line

1 Chronicles 3:1-5:26

Key Verse: 3:3:9

the fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah;

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