March 17, 2020
Tuesday for di Third Week of Lent
Readings for Today
Saint Patrick, Bishop—Memorial Wey No Be Compulsory
Listen for English
Di servant fall down, bow before am to show respect, come talk say, “Abeg, get patience with me, and I go pay you everything back.” Compassion move di servant master, so e let am go and forgive am di money wey e borrow. Matthew 18:26–27
Dis na story about to forgive and to receive forgiveness. Wetin dey interesting be say, many times, to forgive dey easier pass to ask for forgiveness. To ask for forgiveness from your heart mean say you must sincerely admit your sin, and dat one no easy. E no easy to accept responsibility for di wrong wey we don do.
For dis parable, di man wey dey beg make dem get patience with am about im debt look like say e dey sincere. E “fall down” before im master, dey beg for mercy and patience. And di master show am mercy as e forgive am all di debt, and dis one pass wetin di servant even ask for.
But di servant really dey sincere, abi e just sabi pretend well? E be like say na to pretend e sabi, because as dem just forgive am dis big debt, e come meet another person wey owe am money. Instead make e show di same forgiveness wey dem show am, “E grab di man, come begin press im throat, dey demand say, ‘Pay wetin you owe me.’”
If forgiveness na real one, e must affect everything about us. Na something wey we must ask for, give, receive, and give again. See some points wey you fit think about:
- You fit sincerely recognise your sin, feel sorrow for dat sin, and tell another person, “I dey sorry”?
- When dem forgive you, wetin dat one dey do inside you? E dey make you show more mercy to others?
- You too fit give others di same kind forgiveness and mercy wey you dey hope to receive from God and other people?
If you no fit answer “Yes” to all dis questions, then na for you dem write dis story. Dem write am for you to help you grow more for di gifts of mercy and forgiveness. Dis questions hard to face, but we must face dem if we want make we free from di heavy load of anger and bitterness wey we dey hold for mind. Anger and bitterness dey weigh us down well-well, and God want make we free from dem.
Today, think deeply about dis questions above, and examine wetin you dey do as you dey pray. If you notice say anything inside you dey resist dis questions, then focus on di one wey touch you, carry am go prayer, and allow God grace enter so e go bring deeper change of heart for dat area of your life.
Lord, I truly admit my sin. But I admit am as I dey look Your plenty grace and mercy. As I dey receive dat mercy for my life, abeg, make me show di same mercy to others. Help me to forgive freely and completely, without holding anything back. Jesus, na You I trust.
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