MDM4M - Modern Disciple Magazine For Men

Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada

Friday, November 21st, 2008

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So, I was thinking on the way back from work the other day about different things to talk about at life group that night and this was one that popped into my head. It was partly because of the discussion that I had with some friends, and partly, I believe, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Just my opinion... I immediately was thinking of how much we don't forgive other people every day. We get frustrated with them, get upset and lose our cool, but the forgiveness part never comes into the picture. Seems weird, doesn't it? Or does it?

Jesus told the disciples to forgive people "...70 times 7..." - Matthew 18:22, which actually meant keep on forgiving them, no matter what they do to you. Does that mean that we're not going to get upset? Of course not. We're allowed to get upset and even angry over certain things. Jesus was 'angry' when he knocked over the moneychanger's tables in the temple. But, this was a righteous anger, and Jesus didn't sin. Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath". The end of that quoted verse is a good one to clue into. There's a reason for everything that God through men put into the scriptures. God knows that as humans if we don't 'settle' (forgive) hurts, exasperations, and disappointments caused by other people in our lives, that the hurts, etc. will literally consume us mentally, physically, and more permanently, spiritually. If we harbor grudges or 'ill will' against another person we will become bitter as that unforgiving spirit turns into resentment of that person and festers inside us. So, God is right, again. Amazing how the creator of the universe who is holy, perfect, all-knowing, and ever-present can be so right about what we need. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Of course He knows. He's the only one who does. That's why we don't forgive each other: we don't see the big picture like He does. We forget so easily what our mandate is: to "go into all the world and preach the gospel..." How can we share the good news of Jesus Christ with anyone if we think they're a jerk? It might be a little difficult.

Have you ever noticed that most of the time we get upset with people over the stupidest things? I do it every day. Maybe they took 'my' parking spot at work (we don't have designated spots), or maybe they used 'my' computer at work. Dumb stuff like that. It brings to mind a story (parable) that Jesus told that can be found in Matthew 18:23-34. This story is about a man that owed a king some money. It was a lot of money. The amount was millions of dollars; a debt so large he could never pay it back. The ruler was going to have the man, his wife and children sold into slavery, as well as all his possessions sold to pay for the debt, but the man pleaded for forgiveness and got it! Amazing! He was completely forgiven of all his debt. Well you'd think that the man who had just received forgiveness and mercy would be able to exhibit a little in his own life to someone else. Nope! The guy was just like us: Nearsighted. He wasn't able to see the big picture, or apply the mercy he had received to situations in his life. So there's this other guy that owes the forgiven guy a little bit of money. It was a few thousand dollars. Well, the forgiven guy freaks out and has this guy locked in jail for it until he could pay. Definitely no forgiveness. Well, the king hears what the forgiven guy has done and calls the guy before him. The king chews the guy out and then has him locked up, too, until he can pay all of his debt off.

Moral of the story? Forgive or you won't be forgiven. Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you don't forgive men their sins, neither will your Father forgive your sins." God means it. It's written in His word, and His word is truth. God doesn't fool around with things like that. He says it and means it. He's holy, righteous and loving, yes, but he's also just, as part of His nature. He can't let sin go unpunished. And that's what it boils down to: sin. If we're too proud, or angry, or whatever to forgive someone, or go to them to have them forgive us then we're in rebellion to God, and thus we're sinning. And we know that "...the wages of sin is death;" - Romans 6:23. But 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So, if we're not forgiving we need to repent, and start.

continued on page two