Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?
 
Again? They did it again? We fall quickly into despair and anger when people in our lives become repeat offenders against us. It is straight to the prison of passive aggression (or very active aggression, too). We cut people out of our lives who can’t get it together. We treat others with dishonor and disrespect when we feel wronged time after time after time…
The reality is fear of punishment is rarely the motivation for change we hope it is. A severed relationship does not often change the heart of the other, and it doesn’t leave our heart in a good place, either. Jesus’ advice to us is to forgive. No matter what, no matter how often. Forgive.
 
Do you know why there are rainbows in the sky after rainstorms? Because God worked through this same issue. Remember Noah and the ark? God was so sorry he ever made humans, because they were all so terrible and continued living in sin and never sought him or wanted to be in relationship with him. So God wiped everyone out, except for Noah and his family. And from that moment on, he promised to put up with people no matter what. Jesus’ forgiveness extends over every sin- even the ones we habitually do. (This isn’t permission to keep on sinning!) Jesus meets us with truth and grace: he calls sin a sin, and he forgives us. This is permission to meet sin with truth and grace in our lives, too.
 
Challenge: If you’re withholding forgiveness from someone, pray to God about it, and seek to forgive that person. If it is possible and you are led to do so, share your forgiveness with that person as well.
 
Jesus, we make a habit of sinning, and we don’t know what to do about it. You do, though. You forgive us and restore us, and empower us to be more like You. Help us to be more like You as we face the people in our lives from whom we are withholding forgiveness. May they experience the freedom that we have in Your love. Make us to be messengers of Your forgiveness, in Your name, Amen.

Here is a trustworthy saying, deserving of full acceptance, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the foremost. [1 Timothy 1]
 
How often we see the speck in another person’s eye and miss the log in our own (Matthew 7). And we are quite content bringing judgment upon others, while failing to come to grips with what we deserve. We have committed every kind of sin for which we could judge another person. And we will be judged by the measure with which we judge. A little scary, right?
 
The scary thing is that we fail to come to grips with what we proclaim every week: Jesus died to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. Jesus came for broken, desperate, despondent people. That’s the first part. But the second is just as important. I am the worst of them. My need is greater than anyone else’s. And how can that be true for all us at the same time?? Because each of us is only responsible for our own decisions, and we know how poor our decisions have been. Let’s sit with that today, that we are the worst of the worst- and Jesus came to rescue us anyway.
 
Challenge: Repent. Take some time to reflect on where you’ve been and what you’ve done and all the things you don’t want to be part of your story or life anymore. Hand it over to Jesus. He took it up in his hands and nailed it to the cross. They pulled Jesus off the cross and buried him in a tomb. All your baggage was left there in the tomb. Repent today, and turn, knowing that Jesus has forgiven you!
 
Jesus, I have messed up more times than I can count. I have been a terrible person to others and mean and neglectful toward you. Forgive me. Help me to trust in Your words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel!” I am trusting in You to rescue me, and I am turning from my self-reliance and trust in anything other than You. Allow me to experience the freedom that comes through Your forgiveness. Amen.

All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.  Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. [Proverbs 15] 

More is always better, right? More toys, more money, more stuff. Jesus paints a different picture. Better to be with God than to be without God. No matter how much stuff we have, what matters is that we have Jesus with us. Fasting is an ancient practice of abstaining from our wants to focus on our needs. Fasting is giving up worldly goods for the sake of heavenly treasures.

I remember going to a third world country and seeing the smiles of pure joy on children’s faces, so glad to be alive even though they have nothing. Contrast that with the needy demands of children who have everything they want and more. We could all use the reminder of how deeply God is providing for all of our needs. We don’t *need* food and water every day, and we very rarely give thanks every day for these gifts. There is no better way to be reminded than to go without by fasting.
 
Challenge: Go on a fast today. It doesn’t have to be food, although food and water are the most basic. Give up something today, and every time you *want* it, pray to God, giving thanks that you have access to these things on a regular basis. You could give up your cell phone, television, news, or anything that you feel like you *need* to get through your day. And go to God in those times. You might just find much more satisfaction than you could have imagined.
 
Jesus, You provide for our needs- even the ones we don’t know we have. Give us grateful hearts for the abundant life You have given us. More than that, let our lives overflow with thankfulness, and strengthen us as we fast this day. In Your name, Amen.