Scripture

Then Peter came to him and asked,“Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? 7 times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.”

Observation

Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sings against him. He suggests seven times, which was very generous. But Jesus says seventy times seven is the appropriate number.

Jesus then tells a parable of a king who was settling accounts. He discovered that one of his servants owed him millions of dollars. He ordered the servant to be thrown into prison, along with his family. The servant pleads for time to pay, so the king forgives his debt. A fellow servant owes this man a few days wages. The first servant has him thrown into prison despite the man’s pleas for mercy. When the king hears about this, he has the first servant thrown into prison.

Jesus concludes by saying that this is how God will treat those who refuse to forgive their brothers and sisters.

Application

Gods mercy towards us is huge. We think of all the times we have said, “Sorry” to God and received His forgiveness. We should probably add four times that number again of occasions when we should have said “Sorry” but failed to do so.

Forgiveness flows to us from God’s heart because He is love and we are His children.

Part of being a receiver of God’s loving forgiveness is that we forgive those who hurt us. Peter thought he had an idea of God’s grace when he suggested that we forgive people seven times. But Jesus explodes that idea. “Seventy times seven” really means that we do not keep count.

For the child of God, forgiveness should flow freely from our hearts as it does from God’s heart.

“Freely you have received. Freely you must give.”

Prayer

Lord, your love is like an ocean that stretches beyond our imagination. You let my sins sink out of sight and over again. Please let this same grace flow from me to others. Amen.

Scripture

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Observation

If a man has 100 sheep, he will go searching for one that goes astray. When he finds the stray, he will rejoice over the one that was lost more than the ninety-nine who did not go astray. The Father also rejoices when one of His little ones comes to faith.

If another believer offends us, we should first try to resolve it privately. If that does not work, we should take one or two others to meet with them. If all else fails, we must take the dispute to the church to be adjudicated.

If two people agree on earth concerning anything, the Father will do it. Where two or three gather in Jesus’ name He is with us.

Application

There is spiritual power in agreement, for better or worse.

When we agree in prayer, then God sees our combined faith levels and moves to answer our prayer. Agreement brings a multiplication of faith.

Agreement has a negative side also. When we gossip or speak badly of other christians in a group, then the power of agreement releases satan to pull that person down. When we say a particular person is no good or beyond redemption, we give satan the ability to block that person’s access to the grace of God.

If there is power in agreement, there is even greater power in presence. The presence of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, pulls down strongholds, releases healing, and brings people to salvation.

When we gather, even as two or three, the church, the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ is in session. There amongst us is Christ.

The key is that we meet in the name of Jesus, that is, as His representatives. There is no promise for a couple of christians having coffee together, but when we come together “as my followers”, we can know our prayers will be powerfully answered.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the power of agreement and the power of your presence. Please help me to believe these words and put them into practise. Amen.

Scripture

“What sorrow awaits the world, because it’s tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.”

Observation

The disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in God’s Kingdom. Jesus replies that we must turn from our sins and become like children to get inside the Kingdom. Anyone who becomes humble like a child is the greatest in the Kingdom.

Anyone who causes a “little one” (whether a child or a believer in Christ) to fall into sin will be judged so terribly that they would be better off with a millstone tied around their neck and cast into the sea. Temptation is inevitable, but sorrow awaits the one who tempts people.

If we are led Into temptation, we should cut off the offending parts of our body. It is better to enter eternity maned then to be thrown into the flames of Hell.

Application

It is one thing to sin ourselves, but infinitely worse if we cause somebody else to sin.

The world system, and those who participate in it, will be judged harshly by God for this reason.

When we look around at the temptations that our society exhorts us to indulge, it is no wonder that Jesus is so harsh. The world encourages us to lust after people, to engage in sexual promiscuity, to indulge in sexual depravity, to drink too much alcohol, to covet cars, houses, and other goods, to be gluttons, to despise authority, and so on.

Jesus shows us a very different way to live. It is not that we should reject everything the physical world offers, or all that society gives, but that we focus our attention on serving the Lord.

We must, therefore, ensure that we resist the seductions of the world. Above all, we must take care not to lead others into sin.

Prayer

Father God, you call me to live a life of simplicity and trust. Please help me to live in a way that pleases you. Amen.