My Daily Journal:
I worry about being taken advantage of. We live in a world full of warnings to “keep up your guard.” We are told to be careful, diligent, cautious. “There is a sucker born every minute.” Don’t be a patsy, an easy-mark.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Peter’s question is not unreasonable. There have to limits, right? There have to be boundaries. If someone wrongs us, they have to pay. How many times must I offer forgiveness to someone who repeatedly transgresses against me.
I’m guilty of this mindset. But it is a mindset of limited resources and God is a God of Unlimited Grace and Provision. Jesus helps put this in perspective. We are focused on the equivalent of 100 silver coins. We seek justice for a transgression of 100 silver coins. But God is dealing at the level of 10,000 bags of gold.
Since we don’t deal much in actual silver and gold, I looked it up.
A US Silver Dollar (1878-1935) is worth about $15.50 in silver. So 100 silver coins would be worth $1,550.
During the gold rush, a bag of gold held approximately 25 pounds. Assuming bags have traditionally been about the same size, a bag of gold at current market value would be worth a little over US $500,000. So, the forgiveness of the King was to the tune of US$5,062,000,000. $5 Billion Dollars.
In God’s economy, the things we worry about someone taking advantage of us over would get lost in rounding. If I spent more time and effort protecting my heart and my eyes and those I love, that would be a far wiser eternal investment than protecting worldly possessions.
My only appropriate response should be one of thanks to God and modeling the grace and mercy that He has shown me. When we pray for God to forgive our sins as we forgive others, the forgiveness we show others is the measure we are asking Him to use on us.
My Answers:
12.
a.
how many times must I forgive my brother = maximum number of time I can ask for forgiveness. If 7, then…
b.
Law of Lamech or Lamech’s curse was a distortion by Lamech for a rule of vengence. Jesus turned these words into a rule of forgiveness instead.
13
a.
Sins of others to me are miniscule compared to forgiveness I have received. 10,000 bags of gold vs. 100 silver coins
b.
Lord’s prayer, forgive us our sins as we forgive others
c.
As I forgive and seek to truly hear others and simply listen, I find myself in a better place, one where I feel more forgiven
d.
Thank you for being God. Thank you for being the almighty and being patient with me. Thank you for being the shepherd to come and hunt me down when I repeatedly go astray.
The Notes are Good 