David Bahn – Reflections

Yesterday’s message at the Sunday worship service of the LCEF National conference was based on John 17:20-21, where Jesus prays, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Verse 21 was the theme of the conference and the message was powerful: The only way we can be one is by the work of God. The same is true of forgiving our neighbor, our brother or sister. We can do this only by the forgiveness of God.

Pastor Charles (“Chuck”) Neugebauer shared the realities of our brokenness, division, and impossible-to-unite disunity. He did it in love and truth – powerful and humbling. And then he made his point. We cannot put ourselves together. We cannot make ourselves one. Only God can do that. And that happens only as we live in God’s perfect, unconditional, and uniting love. If we live in love, and we recognize that his love is for all people (that includes that pesky neighbor, that difficult brother-in-law, and even that hurtful parent), then we are united. In fact we are united in the only way we can be united: in God’s love for all people.

The same is true for forgiveness. We can only forgive because God has forgiven us. Out of his grace for us and all people we can reckon our neighbor, brother-in-law, parent, boss, or enemy as forgiven too. There is much to say about this, and I’ll reflect on this this week. For now, it is enough to recognize the two essential elements to being united and to forgiving: we are all loved by God. For Jesus’ sake God has forgiven you of all your sins. That is good news and a truth to hold to this week. In fact it may be at the top of your list of things for which you are thankful this Thanksgiving.

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²²Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

²³“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³²Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Jesus