Good Morning.  Here’s Today’s Nugget to chew on:

“Forgiveness”

Matthew 18:23-35 The Passion Translation(TPT)

23 The lessons of forgiveness in heaven’s kingdom realm can be illustrated like this: “There once was a king who had servants who had borrowed money from the royal treasury. He decided to settle accounts with each of them. [24] As he began the process, it came to his attention that one of his servants owed him one billion dollars. So he summoned the servant before him and said to him, ‘Pay me what you owe me.’

[25] When his servant was unable to repay his debt, the king ordered that he be sold as a slave along with his wife and children and every possession they owned as payment toward his debt. [26] The servant threw himself facedown at his master’s feet and begged for mercy. ‘Please be patient with me. Just give me more time and I will repay you all that I owe.’

[27] Upon hearing his pleas, the king had compassion on his servant, and released him, and forgave his entire debt. [28] “No sooner had the servant left when he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him twenty thousand dollars He seized him by the throat and began to choke him, saying, ‘You’d better pay me right now everything you owe me!’

[29] His fellow servant threw himself facedown at his feet and begged, ‘Please be patient with me. If you’ll just give me time, I will repay you all that is owed.’ [30] But the one who had his debt forgiven stubbornly refused to forgive what was owed him. He had his fellow servant thrown into prison and demanded he remain there until he repaid the debt in full.

[31] “When his associates saw what was going on, they were outraged and went to the king and told him the whole story. [32] The king said to him, ‘You scoundrel! Is this the way you respond to my mercy? Because you begged me, I forgave you the massive debt that you owed me.

[33] Why didn’t you show the same mercy to your fellow servant that I showed to you?’ [34] In a fury of anger, the king turned him over to the prison guards to be tortured until all his debt was repaid. [35] In this same way, my heavenly Father will deal with any of you if you do not release forgiveness from your heart toward your fellow believer.”

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Further Thought:  Today’s passage reminds us that unforgiveness is very expensive.  It also reminds us that whatever we ask God for, we must be willing to do the same for our fellow man.  Galatians 5:6 reminds us that our faith [our ability to trust, believe, and receive from God] is fueled by our love for our fellow man.  So when we choose not to forgive, we disqualify ourselves from receiving God’s forgiveness and goodness. Think about it; there is nothing you or I will ever do that He hasn’t already forgiven us for [Psalms 103:3].  So, the question today is: whatever you are holding onto, is it worth missing out on God’s best?  I’ll answer that, No! Now release it.  When you do, you then release God to act on your behalf. Remember Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Have a great day and keep chewing on God’s Word.

Additional references:  Mark 11:25-26; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 5:44 and Matthew 22:36-40

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“2025 Stop & Listen” Today’s Recommended Reading 1 Corinthians 3