Lenten study 2007 - Day thirty-one
March 28, 2007
Continuing Colossians 3:13 - Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also forgive others.
The world tries to convince me that Jesus is no more than a good and wise ethical teacher. As I read Scripture it didn’t take long for me to see that Jesus’ teaching goes far beyond mere ethics. Consider these words of the Teacher:
Luke 17:3-4 Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
In this verse, the Master is teaching his disciples to hold each other accountable. Defying ethical common sense, Jesus told them (and tells me) to always take a Christian brother’s repentance at face value, and forgive him.
If he sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. That’s not too hard to understand.
Last word: Since God accepts my repentance and forgives me, how can I not do the same for my brother or sister in Christ?
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2 Responses to “Lenten study 2007 - Day thirty-one”
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Here’s your quote of the day, admin, better known as DOD to his daughters:
“The deepest love I’ve experienced is on the other side of forgiveness” -David Martin
He’s a song writer. You can read that quote as the deep love experienced when God forgives you, or as human love when forgiveness is practiced. My challenge with regards to forgiving other people is to stay on the other side of forgiveness! If , in my human pettiness, I jump back to the wrong side (unforgiving spirit) then the Holy Spirit gently reminds me of the huge debt Christ paid for me. Or in my denser moments, not so gently, as in a slap upside my head.
(For those unknown lurkers, DOD — Dear Old Dad)
Good thought. Amen.