Matthew 18 - 8.16.2024

Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.

Matthew 18:32 - 35

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?

The ending to a parable of Jesus describing a story about an unmerciful servant, who was granted mercy by his master, only to turn right around and behave wickedly to somebody in his debt.

I have of late thought often of various family members that moved on and away from family holding on to so much bitterness and anger inside their heart. I always seem to arrive at the same question-thought towards the end of my reminiscence, “Was all that anger worth it?”

Application - How will you apply this to your life?

While several of the themes of this parable are mercy and forgiveness towards brothers and sisters in Christ, I could not stop thinking about forgiveness and mercy within the context of family and…coworkers. 😁

I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me of an incident involving a speeding coworker and my daughter who was driving me while we were all on the way to work. And low and behold as I searched my heart I found a root of bitterness and anger which led me to ask myself, “Was all that anger worth it?”

Prayer - Write out a prayer.

I am so amazed by your mercy, Lord Jesus. I am so amazed by your heart. Thank you for giving us the blueprint on how we ought to deal with brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to practice this heart-concept Lord. I pray to You Lord, that you would help me to let go of any anger or bitterness that I may have harbored towards a brother or sister in Christ. I pray that I would let go of any anger I may have toward my family and friends. I pray Lord, that I would not look at anyone with bitterness or anger friend or foe, coworker or not, whoever you decide to put on the same path that I happen to tread on this wonderful earth you have created, may I, in turn, extend a portion of the mercy and grace that You have extended to all of us. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.

-kenneth lee