Matthew 18:21-22 NLT
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
So I’m in the grocery store this morning, and I go up to the meat counter looking for a cut of meat that I prepare on Sundays that I eat throughout the week for my lunches.
I do something that I do not usually do, but today, I went up to the counter and asked one of the meat cutters if they had any of this cut of meat coming out.
He informed me that there was plenty of it on the shelf, but there was not, and I informed him of that.
By the way, he was talking with me; I felt like I was bothering him.
He told me that he would get some and put it out. I thought that would be great; I said to him no hurry; I had other things to get so I would double back.
I continued to get the other things I needed and made my way back to the meat counter. I saw him again at the bench, so I figured he had put the meat I was looking for out, and I went to the area where it would have been and… nothing.
So I decided on another choice and continued, but my heart wasn’t right.
I felt slighted.
I was thinking of the note that I would write to the store about the experience that I had. Would I make it public, or would I just send it privately?
You may be thinking, “Come on, John! This is something that isn’t that big of a deal, right?”
I only bring this up because if you know me, you know I spend a lot of time in God’s Word. I read and study the Word of God every day for an hour to two hours a day.
Please understand, I do not say this to pat myself on the back, I say this because, despite the time I spend in God’s Word, my mind went to such a petty way of thinking.
See, I do the same thing that this guy did to me to other people. When I am locked into wanting to complete what I am doing, I couldn’t be bothered by what someone needs from me when they ask for my help.
But here I am expecting this very thing from this guy behind the meat counter.
“Oh Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for ALL who ask for your help.” Psalm 86:5
This verse, which I decided to memorize a couple of years ago from when my Pastor preached on this verse, has stopped me on multiple occasions and changed my path about this way of thinking.
Back to the store… as I am writing this letter in my mind, this verse explodes again in my mind!!
“Oh Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive…”
If you were watching me as I was walking out of the store, you would have seen my head drop and tears in my eyes.
Here I am expecting something from someone else that I don’t even live out in my own life.
As I was continuing to my car, I was asking God to forgive me for this way of thinking.
Ephesians 6:12 NLT
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
God orchestrated this event for me, to remind me of this verse and to change my heart.
How many of these instances do I have in my life?
When I feel slighted when I feel like I am not getting my way?
How often do I feel that someone is not living up to my expectations?
Frankly, the people in my life are not here for me, but I am here for them.
When I start to get this right and start using my God-given talents to help point others back to our Savior, Jesus Christ, my life changes, and so do the lives of those around me.
John 15:13 NLT
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your grace and Your forgiveness. I thank You for Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross to take away our sins.
I ask You to forgive me for the petty thinking that I exercise and the poor expectations that I put on the world around me.
I pray that You work in my heart and that You center my thoughts, attitudes, and actions with Jesus Christ at the center of all of them.
I thank You for the people You put in my life, and I pray that You open my eyes to what it is that You want me to learn and give me the discernment to take action on the promptings of the Spirit.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
