Day 2: How many times shall I forgive?
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).
Father in heaven, You are a God of great forgiveness and mercy. We pray, in gratitude, like the psalmist, If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve You (Psalm 130:3-4).
Oh Lord Jesus, You taught us to pray, Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us (Luke 11:4). Teach us to understand the enormity of that request.
We are like Peter and the disciples, so smug in the rightness of our reckoning, the magnanimity of our "mathematics." And all the while we live in the grace of Your infinite measures—east from west (Psalm 103:12), ocean depths (Micah 7:19), life-giving words uttered from a cross (Luke 23:34).
Lord, we are so preoccupied with exacting standards and precise computations—so focused on outer limits, so fixated on end points! We debate the boundaries of goodwill and inquire about the edges of expectations. We are like the servant in The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23-24)—pardoned prodigiously, yet penalizing the paltry.
You know, O God, our leanings toward limitations, our tendencies towards minimum. You know our pull towards the letter of legalism, rather than the spirit of your grace. But You have warned us that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Teach us to forgive like You. It isn't the human way. Give us Your supernatural grace. Give us the love of Christ that covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Enable us to forgive like You, so that we can pray with gratitude and confidence, Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us (Luke 11:4).
Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died On Calvary.
Refrain: Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary.
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned; Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned, Till my guilty soul imploring turned To Calvary.
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything, Now I gladly own Him as my King, Now my raptured soul can only sing Of Calvary!
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span At Calvary!
~ William R. Newell ~ published 1895
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