Proverbs of a 42 yr old man

A small amount. Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Romans 8:33. That verse hits hard after reading the parable of the unmerciful servant Matt. 18:21-35. Jesus revealed that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. What a great illustration for us to even begin to understand the forgiveness of God in Christ. For it is within God's forgiveness that we see his holy power. God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Amen. Now, think about what the snake told Eve, let's go to Gen. 3:1-5 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Amen. Let me stop here. Adam and Eve did not die immediately after they ate from the tree but the world they were brought into was about to change dramatically. For them and for their offspring, humanity would know good and evil and sin and death would eventually destroy the world God had perfectly made. The amazing part about this is the mercy and forgiveness God extended to the whole creation. Through the power of forgiveness God in Christ would make all things new. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:20-22. Amen. Humanity has been forgiven so much. Jesus came to save not just Israel but the whole world. Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. He is asking humanity to believe and live for Him the way He died for us. We were bought by the precious spotless Lamb of God. Just like the parable of the unmerciful servant I started with, we have been forgiven so much. Then how shall we live? One thing I missed reading this parable through the years was the big to small comparison that Jesus makes in a lot of His Parables. The small mustard seed, least and greatest in heaven, the lost sheep and coin, and so on. There is a reason Jesus tells these stories and for our hearts to receive and grow in goldy maturity. When we think about forgiveness and how big the process of walking it out. It helps to know that Jesus modeled for his teachings and told us to start at the heart. The spirit of the law is just as important as the letter of the law. The investment of the Spirit of Christ, who is the Holy Spirit in our lives is an incorruptible seed to our hearts and minds. We are connected to Spirit and Life of Jesus and start to walk out righteousness and newness of life. Beginning to learn the power of forgiveness since the foundations of the world. And as we start to understand how much we have been forgiven we start to accept forgiveness in our lives and relationships. Jesus says in the parable that we have been forgiven so much, how can we not forgive someone who owes us much less? How can we say we love God who we have not seen, and not love our neighbor who we can see? The power of forgiveness on the Cross can do this for us as we are transformed in our hearts and minds daily. It's in forgiving the little things in our lives that we will be able to forgive the big things that come in our lives. God can help us bear harsh offense and injury from others and society. There is so much pain and sorrow in this world that could easily breed unforgiveness and revenge. Reflect on this amazing parable that gives real spirit and life. Realize this: Let's not try to take a big bite out of the deep concept of forgiveness. Let's start in forgiving the little things and give God in Christ room to help us grow in forgiveness for the difficult things in our lives that we face. I can't even imagine what Jesus faced on the Cross and still say Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Amen. In Him we move and live and have our being. Jesus will help us to walk in obedience to Holy Spirit and learn to forgive little by little. Those who have been forgiven much love much. And if you love much you will be able to forgive much. You can't fake forgiveness. If you truly love God, it will reflect how you treat and love people. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Heavenly Father will not forgive your sins. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.