13 September Part 2
May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 (NRSV)
Read. Romans 14:1-12. For Paul there was only one way for the Christian and that was to rely fully on the freedom that Jesus Christ has won. We do not fully comprehend the struggles that some of the early converts to Christianity would have faced, for all the ancient religions including Judaism were beset with a host of rules that dictated how you were supposed to live out your faith. A weak person was the one who strived to keep all the rules whilst a strong person lived out of the freedom that Jesus had won. However Paul is admonishing both groups. Anyone who felt constrained to judge another believer was not living in freedom at all but was on the contrary, taking God’s place. Only God had the right to judge. It was the master’s role to judge the servant and the servant had no place judging another servant. James 4:1 reminds us that it is not being at peace within ourselves that is the cause of quarrelling. What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? James 4:1 (NLT2)
When we are at ease in heart and mind we are always more accepting of others. Jesus prayed that all believers would be one and so in all our relationships we need to always submit to the way of Jesus Christ. As Luther says when discussing this section of the epistle, “It is the gospel which is paramount!” and so we need always to keep that in mind as we live, worship and fellowship with one another.
Prayer. Lord help us to be at peace within allowing your forgiveness to touch every part of our life’s experience. Help us to be at peace with ourselves so that by focussing our thankful hearts on you we may live at peace with one another. Guide us in the ways of peace at all times and in all circumstances. Above all may we be open to your loving presence, which brings both your mercy and your strength. May we conform to your will and to live life in honour of your loving grace. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honoured by every nation. I will be honoured throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 (NLT2)
Read. Matthew 18:21-35. This passage is clearly about forgiveness. Peter thought he was being very generous because he was more than fulfilling what the law proscribed. The rabbis taught that you should forgive up to three times, that principle is spelt out in the threefold process of forgiveness in the !5,16 & 17th verses of this 18th chapter of Matthew. So Peter would have expected a warm pat on the back for being so generous, but no. God wants extravagant forgiveness, forgiveness without measure, and in all situations. In the story of the unforgiving servant the debts are grossly unequal. A talent was a unit weight of money and a single talent was worth more than 15 years wages for a day labourer. A denarius was the usual days pay for a labourer. As our passage indicates the debt we forgive, is insignificant when compared to the debt we owe to God.
The underlying principle in the passage is that God expects us to forgive, as is clear from the closing verse! “So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” A key condition for the receiving of God’s forgiveness is the willingness to forgive others. The forgiven life is the forgiving life. However like all things of God it is much more than just a set of rules to be obeyed,
We forgive because he first forgave us. “Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Col 3:13 NRSV
Human forgiveness reflects our experience and understanding of divine forgiveness. Forgiveness puts us into a right relationship with God through the sacrifice of Jesus: It restores us in both personal relationships and fellowship. When we are in a right relationship with God, it is easier, indeed natural to forgive. Only when we know God’s forgiveness is true forgiveness possible.
Prayer. Almighty God you give life to the living and renew hope for the dying. Your mercy touches every part of life and just as you refresh the world with new seasons, so you refresh us at every change, always renewing us in your love. We lift our hands and hearts to you alone for you are sovereign over all things. Accept our thanks and praise as we live through this day, trusting in your strength and looking always to you for guidance. We honour your love and care of us and pray that you will give to us the compassion we need in order to love all those that we meet today and every day. This we ask, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you; One God for ever more. Amen
Collect. Gracious Father, you do not treat us as we deserve, but you are mercy and life. As in Christ your Son you have forgiven us, may we also forgive one another, for his sake and in his name. Amen.
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