Feb 8
Jailbreak
In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured… “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive others from your heart.” Matthew 18:34-35 (NIV)
These are the last verses of a story that Jesus was telling His disciples about forgiving others.
He is saying that there is a consequence to not forgiving someone.
Have you ever been mad at someone because you found out that they were talking poorly of you to others, wronged you, took something or someone from you…?
Every time you see that person or even hear their name, you get that grinding feeling in your gut. You see them across the room and you take the long way, just to avoid them. You talk about them to others. You examine and research their every move and criticize or complain.
You want them to fail. You, my friend, ‘have been handed over to the jailers to be tortured’!
This doesn’t just happen between enemies. It is most common with those we “love”; husbands and wives, parents and children, siblings, coaches, teachers…
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, please help me to forgive, even when they don’t “deserve” it. Show me who I am in bondage to and let me be released by truly forgiving them, BECAUSE I WAS UNDESERVINGLY FORGIVEN BY YOU. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.