Happy Wednesday! Today is October 4, 2023. Have you ever had someone difficult to forgive? If so, you're in good company because the disciples struggled with the same issue. Here, Jesus teaches about a higher level of faith we may not presently possess. Read on...
Today's Reading:
Esther 1,2; Psalms 150; Luke 17
Scripture
“ … Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them. The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea!’ ” (Luke 17:3-6)
Observation
I’m glad I’m not the only one that struggles with forgiving! Even the apostles did. When Jesus instructed them about pardoning a wayward brother (who must be a pretty lame brother to mess up seven times in one day!), he said they should still forgive. Their reply was somewhat comical: “Man, Lord! Increase our faith for this!”
The Lord then hitchhikes off their S.O.S. call for more faith and instructs us all: “If you had the faith of a mustard seed, you could change landscapes!” In other words, Jesus taught us that forgiveness is not an issue of our generosity. Neither is it determined by the size of the offense committed. Instead, it reveals the size of my faith.
Application
When I have a losing struggle with forgiveness, this may be a symptom that I don’t yet have the faith depth to match the offense. Either the pain is too great, or my ability to forgive is overwhelmed by the offense. If this is true, then maybe I’m reaching into the wrong place for what is required. When I cannot forgive, it signals the fact that my faith still needs to grow. Maybe this is a test that flags the condition of my faith level, and if God has plans in store for my future that require a greater level of faith, it will show up with a '7-times-a-day' kind of brother.
Prayer
Father, thank You for this lesson and reminder that forgiveness is an issue of my faith, not the size of their sin. Please deepen my faith because I have several 7-times-a-day friends … and maybe they are gifts to me because I need to develop a deeper level of faith for the plans You have for me.
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