Some days I feel like I live Frozen.
Frozen in time.
Frozen in relationships.
Frozen in boiling emotions.
Frozen in confusion.
Frozen in between the spiritual place I reside and the latitude and longitude I long to be.
Maybe you know about the winter less-than-wonderland of the soul.
We continue the #LentChallenge with Matthew 17-18. To download the free #LentChallenge Gospel reading guide, click here. Find out about the cray-cray color method, I’ve been using (and try it for yourself!).
Jesus has been pinching open our eyelids and sticking pinkies in our ears that we would be people who see and hear and hear and see.
Then he peels back the veil. In a holy moment, the Old Testament meets the New. Prophets of the past meet the followers of the future on a rocky mountainside.
Moses. Elijah. James. John. Peter. Jesus. The Sacred Echo of the I Am declares:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Words we need to relish in each day. The sunny heart of the Father revealed.
Jesus then sizzles the hearts of the disciples with startling teaching and mind-bending miracles. A boy returns to his right mind. A fish gobbles a coin and endures indigestion that we might recognize the magnitude of God as Provider. Jesus reveals the greatest among us are those with innocent, simple, and whimsical hearts and the lost are haunted by search parties and receive galas when they return home.
Then Jesus transitions from warming our hearts to exposing the frigidness of our hearts.
Or maybe it’s just my own.
The Rock asks Jesus how many times we must forgive. Jesus says a zillion. Some translations say 7 times 7, others 7 times 70, but the heart behind the math always points to endless forgiveness—the same kind you and I have received.
In Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God, I describe:
The other disciples eavesdrop on Peter’s question: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”1 For a brief moment, I imagine the disciples admiring the audacity of Peter’s question and the apparent piousness of his suggested answer. Seven isn’t only generous but also representative of the idea of completeness initiated during the seven days of creation.
But Peter’s math is off.
Though forgiving seven times may seem generous to rabbis, the number is only a fraction of what’s required. When it comes to pardoning sins, Jesus calls us to exponential living. How many times is forgiveness required? Seventy times seven–more than anyone feels like offering and more than anyone wants to track. Jesus gave his disciples more than just a number, but a new way of life.
In essence, Jesus says, “Forgive wholly, and you will find yourself whole; forgive completely, and you will find yourself complete.”
The question of each day’s #LentChallenge reading remains:
What do I most need to read but least want to hear?
Yesterday I boiled with anger, frustration and disappointment toward several people who had made promises, given their word, and never followed through. I’d been following up with months. Told “we’re on it” and “we’ll get that to you.”
But nothing changed.
Perhaps you have some of these people in your life. Those pesky people who you need to forgive.
In today’s #LentChallenge the thing I most needed to read but least wanted to hear:
Let. It. Go.
Forgive.
Forgive those who drop balls.
Forgive those who mismanage.
Forgive this who overpraise and under-deliver.
Forgive those who short change.
Forgive those who make false claims.
Forgive those who make costly mistakes.
Forgive.
Because you have done all these and more, too.
I spent time forgiving. Letting it go. It was neither easy nor is it over. I suspect when the disappointment and frustration boils reappear, I’ll have to forgive and let it go again and again and again. As many times as it takes, Jesus nudges.
As I sit in the silence, I sense another nudge of the Spirit.
Let it go isn’t just about what others have done or left undone. Grace isn’t just for you to give to others, but submerse yourself in, too.
Gulp.
Sometimes the hardest people to forgive are ourselves.
Let it go.
Forgive.
Forgive yourself for the times you’ve dropped balls and mismanaged.
Forgive yourself for the moments you’ve overpromised and under-delivered.
Forgive yourself for the false claims, the costly mistakes.
Forgive yourself for when you tell yourself if you’d just done more.
Forgive yourself for when you think if only you’d performed better.
Forgive yourself for the words you can’t take back.
Forgive.
The clemency of Christ is designed to flow to and through. Today, Day 8 of the #LentChallenge I find my heart warmed. Through forgiveness, de-thawing sets in. The hardened heart softens then becomes life-giving again. And I find myself expectant of what Easter will bring.
Come, Lord Jesus.
This morning I was ready Matthew 15-16 in my lent challenge and asked the question you suggested, “What do I most need to read and least want to hear?” This is what the Lord had jump off the pages:
In 16:23 …you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. I really made me examine myself of motives in some of my decisions. I stopped write then and asked the Lord to always have my heart concerned with what concerns him and put my selfishness aside. I can only do this with the Holy Spirit guiding my every thought and move.
In 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. This made me ask the question, “Am I doing enough?” I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind but always feel I am falling short. My prayer is that I take advantage of EVERY opportunity he give me to share the good news, not for reward but because it is my mission on this earth.
Thanks for giving us this challenge, change is coming and I can’t wait to see what God does with it!!
Vickie, isn’t this Bible reading SO rich and SO deep? God is continuing to reveal things to me, and change my heart in ways I didn’t imagine.
“The Rock asks Jesus….” The Rock? Jesus is the Rock. Jesus built the church upon Himself. The church is His. the Body of Christ. I know for centuries, it seems, people automatically believe it was Peter, because they were told so. But when you think about it, why on earth would Jesus build His church, His Body, upon a man? Something that would last not just centuries but forever (when we as the Bride of Christ will be married to Him) would not be built upon flawed mankind. No it was onto Himself that it was built on. Sorry….but I have to disagree with you because it makes no sense to me.
Hi Christine, I was referring to the meaning of Peter, which is rock, when calling him that in that sentence. But I think there is truth to what you are saying– that the church is built on Christ, first and foremost. God used Peter as a tool to ignite the early church.
I actually loved the way you used that turn of words, and I knew who you meant! I love your writing, Margaret. So glad I discovered you! 😉
Also keep in mind that the disciples would argue amongst themselves about who would sit on Christ’s right side. If Jesus referred to the church being built on Peter, Peter’s head would be the size of Mount Rushmore and he would be intolerable to live with. I could not see Jesus doing that. None of the disciples had the Holy Spirit at that time as it was clearly before Pentecost. And even then the human carnal nature would creep back as in the case of Peter getting rebuked later on after the gospels.
I so needed to read this today. Every word. Right to the end.
Hearing so much during this challenge. Painful but needed.
Huge hug, Melinda.
Thanks for the reminder that I need to forgive myself and to immerse myself in Grace which is so glorious.
Why did Jesus who was full of compassion for people, in his conversation with the Canaanite woman, (Matthew 15:26) made reference to her race as “feeding the dogs”? I admire her for her faith and not being perturbed by Jesus’ response.
Love your questions, AnnMarie!
I needed to forgive someone that had been mistreating me at work…someone I knew that needed God and I reached out to her over and over…and just recently she started to talk about me behind my back and stir up trouble and lie about me. I responded by feeling hurt and by ignoring her…not the way I should have…so I need to forgive her and yes forgive myself and jump right back in there reaching out to her, because she really DOES need God.
Praying for you, Marcy.
Matthew ch. 17 & 18 Faith & Forgiveness jumps right out at me. The disciples couldn’t drive out the demon from the boy because Jesus said they had so little faith. Jesus rebuked the devil and healed the boy. It made me question my faith with a trial I’m going through. I ask myself am I trusting in God with all my heart? Where is my faith? I’m not perfect and yes it’s a tough battle but I believe it’s my faith. Ch. 18 Forgive others as God has forgiven you and forgive yourselves.
I added something I wrote about forgiveness, hope it’s okay.
“FORGIVENESS IS A DEEP PEACE WITHIN YOURSELF, A QUIET CALMNESS, FORGIVENESS IS THE RELEASE OF HEAVY BURDENS”
Thank you for this bible challenge!! Love it!!
Suzanne, that idea of forgiveness and forgiving ourselves is so important! I keep chewing over it. Thanks for joining us!
I used to chew & stew over it big time but once you forgive & keep on forgiving it gets easier and it’s so peaceful in your heart. Believe me years ago I could never forgive anyone. Let go and let God
Today as I read Matthew 17-18 and asked “What do I most need to read and least want to hear?” In 17:17 Jesus was asking “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” My first thought was this could be said to our country today then I felt the sting of the words myself, Vickie do you truly believe what you read and have the faith that heals? At times yes, but to be perfectly honest not all the time. Time to pause and pray, “Lord help me with my unbelief”.
Then in 17:23 Jesus tells the disciples again, he will suffer, die and be raised again. I felt the sadness of the disciples, it would be so hard thinking of not having him in there presence. This time no objections but I wish I could have told them….1959 years later a gentile was born and what they were about to witness would save my life!! Hallelujah!
Then in 18:1 ugly pride arrives on the scene but Jesus shows them and us how to concur it! 18:4 “..whoever takes the lowly position of a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” And he doesn’t leave us there, he shows us how to deal with conflicts in our church, the price of disobedience, and how forgiveness in only sincere when it comes from the heart.
Today was humbling and hopeful, let us pray together as sisters to be like that innocent child today! Amen and Amen!
Yes.Yes.Yes. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Vickie!
Do I have frustrating people who make promises and don’t come through? Do I have people who seem to require much from me and my family while seemingly saying whatever necessary to “keep us on the hook” without actually ever doing anything? Yes, you nailed me, Margaret (in a great way). I just took a list before the Father and chose forgiveness. He is my Help and Deliverer, no one else. When victory comes, it’s because He has come through and not the result of anyone else’s promises or doing. I feel the beginnings of that peace, but I also feel I’ll get there. 🙂 Thanks so much.
Matthew ch 19 Jesus tells a rich man sell everything and follow me. So many that I know who are very rich that is all they care about in life their money & possessions. It won’t buy them a ticket into heaven. Put God first! Matthew 20 The Son of Man came to give his life for many. What stood out for me was the most important thing and that is Following Jesus.
Matthew 21 Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus healed and taught in the temple. Matthew 22 Pharisees questioned Jesus about the law. Jesus said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. #Healer