Eric Smallridge calls Renee Napier “an angel.” He says this because Renee forgave him for killing her daughter Meagan in a drunk-driving accident. Although Renee’s forgiveness took a long time, Eric says he “found his eternal salvation as a result.” What’s more, Renee’s pardon encouraged her family to follow suit. Together, they petitioned the courts to have Eric released from prison after serving only 11 years of his 22-year sentence. The fruit of Renee’s forgiving heart has given Eric a “second chance at life.”
Jesus told a story about a king who forgave one of his debtors and gave the man a second chance (Matthew 18:27). The king was about to sell the man and his family into slavery because of an unpaid multimillion dollar debt. But the debtor knelt down and pleaded for more time, promising to repay everything. The king “was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt” (Matthew 18:27).
Sadly, the pardoned debtor then refused to soften his heart toward a man who owed him only a few thousand dollars. He grabbed the man by the throat and demanded immediate payment. Instead of passing along the forgiveness he had been given, he had the man arrested and jailed, pending payment in full. When the king heard this, he questioned the pardoned debtor, “Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:33).
God wants us to “make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends [us]” because He’s pardoned us (Colossians 3:13). His grace poured out on our lives can help soften our hearts toward our “debtors.” We can then release them from whatever they owe us.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 7:1-31
More:
Read Psalm 86:5 to see God’s attitude toward forgiveness. Look up Genesis 50:14-21 for a snapshot of true family forgiveness.
Next:
What’s the spiritual danger involved in holding a grudge? What would happen if God hadn’t released us from the penalty of our sin?
ehdlive on July 27, 2013 at 3:36 am
We can never forgive wholeheartedly anyone who wronged us especially when the one involved is most dear to us, just like what happened to Renee.
But because of the most amazing grace of God, the Holy Spirit enables us to do what is impossible: to love our enemies, to repay evil with good, to be joyful always, etc.
There has never been yet a single religion existing so far, anywhere in the world, that can compare to this most amazing work of grace which is reserved only for every citizens of the Kingdom.. Blessed be the name of the LORD!
seyes on August 3, 2013 at 3:02 pm
I,am a individual male that have the passion to take the gospel, I was serving in East Timor on a Peaceking Dity sponsored by the Australian Govt. and my HEART feels that I have to take the GOSPEL to the Timorees and the Abroginees, and after the TOD I went back home and I asked my wife that I have to attend a Pastoral Bible School, which didn’t happen cause I dont have the support from my wife this was way back in 2003.and eight years down the line, I met someone a female, and got involve with a relationship,,through the available media which the world are using now days to get in touch with friends and relatives..we havent met face to face..and with in this relation we decided to seek GOD first..we both got that passion to take the GOSPEL to the Abroginees (Australian Natives)..we fast we prayed..and GOD have been doing miraculous things into our lives..we fell in love with each other..and the BIG question i would like to asked is that..AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE..waiting upon the LORD, falling in love with this female and at the same time asking GOD to make a way for me so that I can be with this Lady (get married) and work in the KINGDOM of GOD..we are still both abide with Romans 7:1-6..