Whenever I see myself before God and realize something
of what my blessed Lord has done for me at Calvary,
I am ready to forgive anybody anything. I cannot withhold it.
I do not even want to withhold it.
~ Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Continuing from yesterday’s message, Matthew 18:23-35, the following is a parable Jesus shared with His disciples:

“The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’

The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”

If we know and have been shown God’s mercy, we must operate on the principle of mercy. We must.

So you must show mercy to others, or God will not
show mercy to you when he judges you.
But the person who shows mercy can stand
without fear at the judgment.
James 2:13 {NCV}

An even better ending to that verse comes from the New International Version – “Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

Mercy = compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.

Judgment = form an opinion or conclusion about

You have the ability to punish someone based on your opinion, or based on evidence. The master had the bills/receipts/facts showing the servant owed him a lot of money. But the master had mercy on him and let him go.

Moments later—mere moments, mind you—the servant was then faced with the exact same situation, only this time the debt was for ten dollars, not one hundred thousand! Yet the selfish servant insisted the debt be paid. And when it couldn’t, he had the debtor thrown into jail.

How often are we guilty of the same? We come before the throne asking forgiveness and mercy. God grants it to us allowing us to walk away unburdened, with a clean slate.

Only to turn around and throw our fellow neighbor into jail because we can’t give what’s just been given to us.

Hypocritical, no?

Lord, thank you for your unending mercy and love. Help me Lord to walk in Your image everyday and in everything I do. Lord, my desire is to be a reflection of Your great love. Father, give me Your heart to love others as You love them. Help me to see them through eyes of mercy, grace, and love—in the same way you look at me.

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