Forgive From Your Heart (Mt. 18:35)

Behind The Struggle To Love Others (Lu. 7:47)

Read Luke 7:47.

Your struggle to love others is because you don't realize how much you have been forgiven by, and therefore loved by, Jesus.

Forgiveness (Mt. 18:21-35)

Read Matthew 18:21-35.

• This is a parable that illustrates Matthew 6:14-15.  
• In our cases, we can never repay our debts.  
• The "catch" of forgiveness is that, to be forgiven, you must forgive.  Who doesn't want to enjoy life in a forgiven state?  
• Many maintain a "I've forgiven but I won't forget" posture.  So, you claim to have forgiven yet you retain the right to rehearse the offense?  How is that forgiveness? 
• Should a memory of an offense arise out of nowhere, one for which you extended forgiveness, then along with that memory you must also remember you chose to forgive.  Don't go back and forth about your intent concerning forgiveness.  Forgiveness should always be granted permanently.
• Forgive from your heart, not your head.  Beware "professional" forgiveness.

Luke 6:37-38

Read Luke 6:37-38.

Structure:

A    Judge not . . .
B       Condemn not . . .
B1     Forgive . . .
A1  Give . . .

Observations:

1.  The solution for judging is giving.  Giving what?  Mercy (Lu. 6:36).

2.  The solution for condemnation is forgiveness.

3.  These contrasts fit in with Jesus' overall theme in His "Sermon On The Plain" -- life in the Kingdom is counter-intuitive.

Take Heed To Yourselves (Lu. 17:1-4)

Read Luke 17:1-4.

Does the phrase "take heed to yourselves" refer to taking care that you don't offend, taking care that you are quick to forgive, or both?  You should be careful not to offend, and definitely take care not to offend intentionally.  Jesus said that it is impossible that offences will not come.  All the carefulness in the world can't stop every offence.

I think "take heed to yourselves" has more to do with being quick and consistent in forgiving. Beware getting caught in the trap whereby you deny an offence's existence or decide you won't forgive (at least not yet).

Seven Realizations about Offence:

• I offend people easily.  It takes no special talent to do this.
• People easily offend me.  I don't have the thick skin others think I do.
• Moving on never accomplishes forgiveness.  When I move on, offence tucks itself away in the baggage.
• If I keep talking about "it" then it's become an offence.
• It is easier to keep the offence alive than it is to bury it.  
• It is easier to talk to others about the offence than it is to talk to the offender.
• Denial doesn't remove an offence.  Denial only gives an offence more opportunity to putrefy and petrify.

Verse Of The Week (05/27/16)

Presque Isle State Park, Erie, PA   4-22-16

"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, 

And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; 

And all of us wither like a leaf, 

And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

(Isa. 64:6)

Who is grateful for Jesus' provision?  He alone brings new life where there was death and blessing where there was barrenness.

The Trash Collector Came

Okay, confession time.  I enjoy watching the workers throw all my junk into the truck on trash day! 

Big, worn-out sofa -- right into the truck -- crushed as if it were a tomato.  Assortment of loose, annoying, unwanted items -- no problem -- heaved effortlessly into the truck.  The usual, "This is the normal, residual garbage from living life" stuff -- that's what the truck is for.  The pattern has been consistent:  Whatever I lug to the street gets taken away.

Is anyone catching the picture of grace and forgiveness here?

Spiritually, every day is trash day.  In fact, you can take out your trash multiple times a day if necessary!  Oh, and then there is the benefit of immediate pickup.  God wants to take your "stuff" more than you want to get rid of it.  He will never fine you for putting out too much "trash."

Forgive from the Heart (Mt 18:35)

In Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus told a parable to illustrate His answer (18:22) to Peter's question (18:21). Jesus ended the parable telling us to forgive from the heart.

Study carefully enough, think hard enough and you'll soon realize it's not to your advantage to hang onto unforgiveness. It will mess you up spiritually, relationally, mentally and physically. In other words, you can "forgive" just so your life gets better. That's forgiveness from the head. You move on, but it's only for your benefit. Moving on isn't the same as forgiving.

What's missing is release. Heart forgiveness happens when you release someone. You separate the person from his/her offense against you. You keep on separating every time the offense surfaces inside you. When it comes to forgiveness, the heart must overrule the head. Maintaining brotherhood is more important than being right.