Monday, September 7, 2026

Scripture

“Out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.” Matthew 18:27

Reflections

Let’s say you sit down to make a list.  The list is to include all the things that you do not feel good about in your life; all the things you’re really embarrassed about, all the things you wish you could forget, all the things you did that ended up hurting another person, all the things that you regret.  You start making the list.  You write down one thing after another.  Exhausted, you realize there is no earthly way you’d ever remember everything to go on that list.

You sit there with that list in front of you.  You have a sick sinking feeling deep within you.  It’s downright depressing.

Then imagine Jesus coming alongside you.  He asks you to trust him with that list.  At first, you’re hesitant to show him that list.  You’d rather pretend he doesn’t know.  But he already knows everything on that list, plus all the things you forgot.

You hand him the list.  He proceeds to feed it into a shredder.  He then takes the shredded remains and burns them.  You ask him why he did that with the list.  He responds, “What list?”

When we look to Jesus and trust in him, we see his all-encompassing mercy for us.  He chooses to see us beyond our failings.  In Him, we are a new creation.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for the gift of your mercy.  Show me someone today who deeply needs to know your mercy as well.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Matthew 18:21-35