Tonight's Throwdown dealt with the parable of the Unmerciful Servant. We are all familiar with this parable as Peter's question is a catalyst for a secret of the Kingdom to be revealed..."How many times must I forgive my neighbor, up to 7 times?"
It is funny how if you put this parable in terms such as, "So if your friend threw your Nintendo DS off a boat, with all your games...would you forgive him?" This seems to hit home a little more than a million dollars...or a huge debt. And, just like Jesus, he knows how to always hit home with us.
It is great how my boys all acknowledged that you have a right to hold a grudge. They all understood that we all have a right to be mad...but it fails in comparison to being free.
In my job I come across many people. The last 4 years have shown me a lot. I have seen one man in total bitterness because his son in law killed his grandson. This man could barely operate. He was weeping all the time, and in total anger...rightfully so. On the otherhand, I also had a woman tell me she was shot three times in the head by her husband...not only does she live to tell about it...but she has forgiven and lives in freedom. I'm not saying she doesn't have things to work through...but you cannot tell what happened to her...all due to forgiveness. She lives in freedom...and rightfully so!
Forgiveness is a Divine principal. It is totally divine. The fate of the universe rests on this principal. You don't even have to be a Christian to use it...because when in operation, it works. But...as Christians, we have all the more freedom to use it. Even Dave Ramsey couldn't get us out of the debt we are in! If you have ever heard his radio show, people call in and tell Dave how much debt they paid off...and then he plays the "freedom" yell from Mel Gibson's, "Braveheart". Wouldn't it be cool if we all called in a radio show and told how much debt Christ paid for us? Wow...
We all have to deal with forgivenss in someway. And sometimes it is hard to stare it in the face. But you got to grab that face and kiss it... and once we kiss the lips of forgiveness...freedom kisses us back!
No...I didn't get that from a fortune cookie...
