Devotion for Sunday, January 19, 2025

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him” (Matthew 18:23-24).

The Lord God created you.  He placed you where you are.  He gave you all your opportunities.  He has forgiven you through His own shed blood.  Everything you have comes from Him.  The amount of money in the parable is, for most of us, an unfathomable amount of debt.  We are in debt to the Lord more than we know.  We cannot repay the debt.  We must be redeemed.  We must be rescued.

Lord, help me to see clearly that any sinful sense of superiority I feel is nonsense.  You have redeemed me at the cost of Your own shed blood.  You bought me for a price higher than I can fathom.  You have redeemed all who repent and believe.  What kind of attitude should I have?  Lead me out of  arrogant self-righteousness to come to the place where I willingly see things as they are and live with gratitude.

Holy Spirit, minister to me and slay any haughtiness that is there.  Help me to see things with eyes of humble gratitude.  Let me see others as those equally forgiven.  You know the places where my heart needs to be renewed.  Lead me Lord, and create in me a forgiving heart that loves my neighbor.  Teach me the way to live each day and grant that I have a heart to live as You would have me live.  Amen.