Scripture of The Day
June 21, 2021
Some 600 years before Christ, the prophet Jeremiah told his generation that originally, Israel did not obey the Lord and set their slaves free. But they repented in Jeremiah’s time. “Just a few days ago you changed your minds and did what pleased me. All of you
agreed to set all Israelites free, and you made a covenant…” Jeremiah 34:15.

By John Rex

If only the story had ended there. How many times have each of us thought “if only” in consideration of something that we did which had dire consequences? Some “if only” decisions cannot be without consequences, and we must live with the pain.  Unfortunately, Jeremiah had to go on with the recording of Israel’s breaking of their covenant of forgiveness. “But then you changed your minds again and dishonored me. All of you took back the slaves whom you had set free as they desired, and you forced them into slavery again. So now, I, the Lord, say that you have disobeyed me; you have not given all Israelites their freedom. VERY WELL, then I will give you freedom: the freedom to die by war, disease and starvation” 34:17.

When we come to Christ, and we ask for forgiveness for sins, we receive it with no cost to us. We are granted our freedom from the bondage of sin. We are then required to likewise forgive the debts of those who have trespassed against us. In what has come to be known as the Lord’s prayer, Jesus said “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” Matthew 6:12. Take note that the verb “forgive” is in the present tense. It is not a once and done action that we are required to perform. Here, “as we forgive” is an ongoing process that is a daily requirement. Otherwise, we could set the slave (who trespassed against us) free and take it back in new anger, hostility, and unforgiveness. Jeremiah warned of the dire consequence of this in verse 17, above.

Did not Jesus likewise give dire warning to us? In Matthew 18, the master had forgiven the unpayable debt of a servant. Rather than continue in this practice of debt forgiveness, this same servant went to another servant who owed him money and demanded repayment. Unable to do so, the servant had the debtor thrown into prison. Upon leaning of this grievous trespass, the master was angry. “In anger his master handed him over to the jailers t0 be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat all of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” Vs. 34-35.

How great a salvation. It costs us nothing. The cost is our obedience. This is not easy. It is a discipline that must be practiced until our will is conformed into the likeness of Christ. Oh Lord, grant us the grace to be obedient in this most important requirement.

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