June 4 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Here is a simple story to instruct us in the truth that grace must flow on and on. Jesus told the story.

This particular man lived and worked at the court. His many connections made it easy to borrow money, and he took out hundreds of thousands of dollars. But the good living ended when the day of reckoning came. He could not pay. He fell on his knees and begged his master for mercy. And his master forgave him his huge debts.

Immensely relieved, he walked out. Then he met another servant who owed him ten dollars. He showed no mercy but insisted on full payment. He had the debtor put in prison until such time as someone would put up the money.

Then the king became very angry: "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" Throw him in jail! For the unforgiving, there is no forgiveness.

We have not been forgiven if we cannot forgive. "For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father also will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matt. 6:14-15).

Grace cannot be retained by those who are unwilling to pass it on. Love is not real if it does not become evident in deeds.

The master gives the unforgiving servant to the jailers to be tortured, and Jesus says that's how God will treat us unless "you forgive a brother or sister from the heart." That's a harsh statement—the loving Jesus speaks of torturers. But don't forget his exact words: the torture is for those who are anti-forgiveness.

Christ's words aren't a real threat to those who stand in the blazing generosity of their heavenly Father. Forgiven! All is forgiven! We are free from guilt and torture, debts and death.

REFLECTIONS

When have you learned how important it is to forgive someone who offended you?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.