“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Luke 17:10
One of the unwritten rules in prison is, “Only the weak forgive.” There even the smallest offenses can escalate quickly to violence. I saw this many times while I was incarcerated.
Many of us have hang-ups with forgiveness. Even Jesus’ disciples thought forgiveness seemed like an impossible task. The Lord had taught them to forgive their brother no matter how many times he might sin against them. Their response shows that they saw forgiveness as something difficult and beyond the reach of ordinary believers. But Jesus turns that way of thinking upside down. If we’ve been forgiven in Christ, forgiveness is the very least we can do to express our gratitude to God (Ephesians 4:32).
Like the apostles, we’re all unprofitable servants. Even if we do all God requires, we’ve done no more than our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Jesus is the only truly profitable servant (Isaiah 53:11). At the cross, He did what we had no right to ask or expect of Him, not only purchasing our forgiveness, but also securing for us the power to forgive (Philippians 4:13)!
Many of us have hang-ups with forgiveness. Even Jesus’ disciples thought forgiveness seemed like an impossible task. The Lord had taught them to forgive their brother no matter how many times he might sin against them. Their response shows that they saw forgiveness as something difficult and beyond the reach of ordinary believers. But Jesus turns that way of thinking upside down. If we’ve been forgiven in Christ, forgiveness is the very least we can do to express our gratitude to God (Ephesians 4:32).
Like the apostles, we’re all unprofitable servants. Even if we do all God requires, we’ve done no more than our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Jesus is the only truly profitable servant (Isaiah 53:11). At the cross, He did what we had no right to ask or expect of Him, not only purchasing our forgiveness, but also securing for us the power to forgive (Philippians 4:13)!
Scripture Focus
Luke 17:1-10
Insight
Do you find it difficult to forgive? Remember what it cost Jesus to purchase forgiveness for you.
Bible In A Year
- Exodus 25-26
- Psalm 38
- Luke 2
