“Write It On Sand!”

“Write It On Sand!”(Mt.18:21-35).
Peter: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus: “…not only seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
In our time this may require that Peter (you) should keep a journal and make sure you record every act of your brother’s sin against you.
Question: Would you carry a notebook with you each time you are with your brother who is more likely to sin against you?
Forgiveness is a byproduct of mercy. Without mercy, genuine forgiveness cannot take place.
The parable which Jesus tells to buttress his response to Peter speaks more of mercy above justice, which is so to say, mercy stands above justice and without mercy, there can be no genuine forgiveness.
In the parable a master cancels the heavy debt owed him by one of his servants who pleads and asks for more time to pay his debt. But the servant sees his colleague who owes him a very little amount. He “grabbed him and began to choke him…,” and despite his colleague’s pleading, “he refused. Instead he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.”
His master heard of this incident and was angry. And in his anger he repealed the mercy he had earlier shown to him.
On a daily basis, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” is perhaps one of the most frequently pronounced words by Christians. Yet, the lack of show of mercy all around us speaks for itself how unforgiving we have become!
Worst of it all, this blatant demonstration of unforgiveness is more evident in the very home of the Messiah, the Prince of Peace! What a contradiction!
Dear friend, how deep is the hurt? How often had it been inflicted compunction? Hear the plea for mercy and be merciful.
Remember, no matter how deep the hurt has been; no matter how often it has been, you have hurt God more deeper and more often than he can remember. But he does not hold this against you. He expects you to do the same to your colleague who, as a matter of fact has not done any bad to you near the worst that you have done to God.
Write the hurts on sand and carve the good on stones! Forgive from the heart! Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit give me always a forgiving heart. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.