Limited Forgiveness

    Deep Creek Jamin Java

(Serving Over ? Cups)

"God's Truth.......

Always Fresh,

Always Aromatic"

A Jolt of Spiritual Caffeine to keep you going!

May 22, 2012

"Limited Forgiveness"

Scripture Reading:
Luke 17:3-4  (HCSB) Be on your guard. If your brother sins,  rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Devotional Reading:

We had a brief conversation on Saturday night about the Isle of Pelicans is its official name…but you would probably know it as Alcatraz.  At our deacon gathering, we spoke about taking the boat to the island and how interesting it is, but do you know for thirty years—from 1933 to 1963—it housed the very toughest of federal prisoners. During that time, 26 tried to escape…but only five succeeded. Alcatraz, surrounded by the chilly waters of the San Francisco Bay, was considered the finest maximum security prison of its time. But there is a prison more secure than Alcatraz, or any other prison on the face of the earth. It is the prison of the human heart that refuses to forgive.  When you choose not to forgive, the anger and bitterness eats at you until it overcomes you--at this point your new identity is not Christ-like, but rather demonic.  When a spouse cannot find forgiveness, the marriage is doomed.  Although, we like forgiveness most when we are in a position to receive it. When we’ve sinned, we want to hear about God’s amazing grace. (Incidentally, I’ve heard the hymn Amazing Grace sung at the funerals of some of the meanest scoundrels who ever lived!) It is when you and I are in a position to extend forgiveness that we become quite a bit more stingy. But did you know that we are forgiven in the exact same proportion with which we forgive others? That’s right. To the degree that I forgive, the forgiveness of God is made available to me. Peter wanted to make sure he understood forgiveness when he asked Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sinned against him…and he thought seven was a generous estimate. Imagine his shock when Jesus multiplied that number by 70! What He was really saying was that we should only limit our forgiveness to others if we want God to limit the forgiveness He offers us. Simply put, if unlimited forgiveness is what we desire, unlimited forgiveness is what we should be willing to give.  Don't be like the unrepented unforgiving spouse who allows bitterness, anger and hate to consume them...seek first the kingdom of God!


Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20