TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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?” Matthew 18:21
Read: Matthew 18:21–35
Listen: Matthew 18
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Forgiveness isn’t always simple. Even Jesus’s disciples had questions about how it worked. Pastor Jeff Manion discussed two common questions about forgiveness in his sermon The Gift of Forgiveness in 2018.
How do we practice forgiveness? Watch this video clip from the 2018 sermon where Pastor Jeff Manion tells us how to know if we’ve truly forgiven someone who’s hurt us using Lewis Smedes’ three categories. In The Art of Forgiving, Smedes writes that we know we’ve truly forgiven someone when “we rediscover the humanity of the person who wronged us, we surrender our right to get even, and we wish that person well.” This means we no longer label them only by their offense. We no longer want them to hurt. And we’re OK when something good happens to them, maybe even happy.
What is and isn’t forgiveness? Forgiveness means we no longer hold the guilty party responsible in our hearts. We allow God’s grace and mercy to flow through us to the person who’s caused us significant pain. Watch this next clip as Pastor Jeff reminds us forgiveness doesn’t mean that other things follow automatically. (1) It doesn’t mean trust is restored. It might take a long time (if at all) for trust to be regained. (2) It doesn’t mean that a previous position will be restored as sometimes offenses result in losing a job or relationship. (3) Finally, it doesn’t necessarily mean a happy reunion. Sometimes the damage is so severe that a previous relationship can never be like it was. True forgiveness can take place without any of these three things.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
After you pray today, watch at least one of the clips and think about how that helps shape your view of forgiveness. If you still have questions about forgiveness and want to talk, please reach out to start a conversation by emailing us at btw@adabible.org.
40 DAYS OF PRAYER
Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Acts 3.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
