Forgiveness is the topic for this week! The parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18 formed the message Sunday! Jesus is very serious about the forgiveness from God “to us” flowing freely “through us”! Jesus clearly teaches this “flow” of grace as a non-negotiable for life in His kingdom. This is bold teaching! Absolute! No wiggle room when it comes to forgiving others as we have been forgiven.
What must it have been like to be a disciple? Hearing Jesus words? Seeing His expression? Benefiting from hearing the tone of His voice? They could ask questions later – getting deeper insight as they walked down the road together – had lunch! How would this teaching have affected one who was there?
In the reading for today we get a glimpse! John was there listening! John lived the rest of his life interpreting, integrating, discovering how you take Jesus teaching and live it out authentically in the human experience! John did for the following six decades what we are trying to do everyday – live as a disciple of Jesus. In 1 John 4:7-10 we get a glimpse into the results of John’s life long journey following Jesus!
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
It seems John wants me to realize that bottom line following Jesus is about love. True love comes from God. God is the source. This ties wonderfully with our theme of forgiveness when I consider that “forgiveness” is one of the most fundamental expressions of love.
The good news from John for me today is that this love is from God. I can’t create it – it is not natural for me – it is from God! When God calls me to love and forgive limitlessly GOD IS NOT ASKING ME TO GIVE SOMETHING I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN!
As I move forward today encountering people that will be hard to love I will get to remember and trust that whatever limitless love is required of me today will have already been given me. I get to humble myself and simply trust that what will be required of me has already been given me. That is my walk of faith today. I get to act like God’s love to me is real and abundant and I am free to give it away with out limit!
WOW!
Delton
Talk to me! What is going on in your heart and mind today?