Grace

In my reading of the parable of the unforgiving servant found in Matt. 18:21-35, God once again reminded me of His greatness and my dark and hopeless state apart from Him.   The fact that Peter had to ask such a question reveals our tendency to sin, or in this case hold grudges against people.  He asks, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seven times seventy."   That means stop counting and always forgive. 

As I seek the Lord, the Spirit enables me to see more and more of my gracious Father. And peels back the layers of my own heart revealing how sinful I trully am. I am learning a new closeness to God.  Life is hard and in those hard times was the closest I have ever been with my Lord.  But He is showing me himself  differently as I am reminded every moment of who I am apart from Him.  Sinner....one who sees fullfillment in the things of this world, like happiness in other peoples misery, thriving on stife and the condemnation of others,  loving only when I get my way,  making judgments on others in some attempt to make me look or feel better,  or seeking after everything with selfish motives.  And that's just the tip of it!  Apart from Jesus and his redemption, the forgiveness of my sin by his death on the cross,  I am not capable of living any other way.  I am doomed, blind, and lost until GOD, my Father, comes to get me.  It is He who saves, and gives us so graciously, so freely, so lovingly, His Son and then His Spirit, to help us see our great need of Him.  I am so grateful He doesn't stop at ABC with us, He keeps pursuing us all the way to Z.  I  have to confess, as a Christian, satan knows where to attack. And one area with me is reading and feasting on the Word of God.  It is so easy to just read it, but to feast on it and live it out is something my flesh doesn't want to do.  I miss the whole point of the gospel.  I fearfully want to live my life for the Lord.  He made me and wants me... that is great motive to not want to live a life in vain.  Thank you Lord for your presence in my life.

How do we always forgive?  In verse 33 Jesus says,"And should not you have mercy on your fellow servant, as I have had mercy on you?"   The bible also says God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  And we should love because he first loved us.  We forgive , we love, we have mercy and grace on others because God has awakened mine and your souls to grasp his love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. His Spirit is with us to guide us and remind us and keep us on our knees wanting and needing our hearts to keep turning in such a way, a perfect way, we can see Him more.

God, Thank you for your amazing grace. And may it continue to flood our souls, transforming our hearts to be more like yours. Help us! We need you desparately to come!