“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?”                                             Matthew 18 : 21 - 35

Bible reading: Matthew 18 : 21 - 35

Thought for the week

Some years ago I was able to visit Rwanda. It was just a decade after the devastating Genocide which had torn the country apart and released such a traumatic evil upon the nation. I met survivors and the scars both physical and psychological were everywhere.

Yet Rwanda today is a very different nation. The man who liberated the people from the tyranny of cruelty is still the President, Paul Kagame, and the nation is secure and stable. Moreover Kagame has nurtured the people to think of themselves not as individual tribes, but as a family. Forgiveness has meant change. A change in how the people see themselves. A change that has brought hope for a new future.

We are changed through receiving forgiveness, and showing forgiveness. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant the problem is there has been no change in the servant on receiving forgiveness, and so he does not show forgiveness in turn.

When we realise the sheer freedom and grace of the Lord’s forgiveness of us, we are changed into the fullness of the people Jesus calls us to be. Jesus has won forgiveness through the Cross. When we receive forgiveness from Him our lives are changed forever.

Rev Paul

Prayer for this week

Merciful God,

your Son came to save us and bore our sins on the cross:

may we trust in your mercy and know your love,

rejoicing in the righteousness that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.