August 20: Insight Post by Rusty Coram
Weekly Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
Wednesday Reflection
The Danger of Unforgiveness: The unmerciful servant’s unwillingness to forgive his fellow servant’s debt, despite having been forgiven himself, shows the serious consequences of harboring unforgiveness. Jesus warns that withholding forgiveness can result in spiritual harm.
Wednesday Verse
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)
Wednesday Questions
How does holding onto unforgiveness impact my relationships with others and with God? What steps can I take to release bitterness and embrace forgiveness?
Wednesday Insight Post
by Rusty Coram
I have two friends who have recently had life-threatening bouts of cancer. In both cases, each had to go through a process where their immune system did a hard reboot (I’m not a medical professional, so I’m using my own terms!) Having their immune system start from zero meant they were highly susceptible to any type of virus or infection. They were isolated and monitored constantly as they rebuilt their body’s capacity to fight off disease.
They understood that even a minor, common cold virus could endanger their lives. Sin is like this.
We need to adopt this kind of mindset to understand the weight and danger of our sin and the enormity of God’s forgiveness. In our reading this week, Jesus illustrates our sin toward God as an insurmountable debt, impossible for us to repay. Understanding this should cause us to be eternally grateful. The way to show we understand is to offer forgiveness to those who sin against us, just as we have received forgiveness. The servant who was forgiven the massive amount didn’t get it. He viewed his sin (debt) as tiny compared to what was owed him by his fellow servant. By minimizing his debt, he proved he didn’t appreciate the king’s forgiveness.
The Bible shows us over and over again that our sin against God is so serious that the only cure is for us to have someone come to our rescue. At the cost of His life, Jesus made it possible. Here are some reminders:
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” Romans 3:23–25 (NLT)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NLT)
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31–32 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org