Key Thought

Mercy! More than an exclamation, it is the reason for exclamation! Mercy, sweet mercy. It is the gift of freedom from our past, our failures, our wickedness. But it is a gift because in receiving it, we acknowledge to ourselves that we have received something we didn't deserve without the person giving it to us expecting us to grovel or be in their debt. Mercy! But more than just the reason for exclamation and joy, mercy is our gift to share. Mercy has not completed its redemptive work until it is passed on, until we see the joy of another being granted his or her freedom. Mercy is the currency of God's Kingdom. Mercy is the music of God's family. Mercy is the basis of our hope. Mercy is the gift of God we are to share with others.

Today's Prayer

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Merciful Father and Almighty King, thank you for delivering me in your grace, saving me by your sacrifice, and including me in your family by your mercy. May my life be a conduit of your mercy to others. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, when my brother won't stop doing wrong to me, how many times must I forgive him? Should I forgive him as many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, you must forgive him more than seven times. You must continue to forgive him even if he does wrong to you seventy-seven times. " "So the kingdom of heaven is like a king that decided to collect the money that his servants owed him. The king began to collect his money. One servant owed the king several thousand pounds of silver. The servant was not able to pay the money to his master, the king. So the master ordered that everything the servant owned should be sold, even the servant's wife and children. The money would be used to pay the king what the servant owed. "But the servant fell on his knees and begged, 'Be patient with me. I will pay you everything I owe.' The master felt sorry for his servant. So the master told the servant he did not have to pay. The master let the servant go free. "Later, that same servant found another servant that owed him a few dollars' worth of silver. The servant grabbed the other servant around the neck and said, 'Pay me the money you owe me!' "The other servant fell on his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me. I will pay you everything I owe.' "But the first servant refused to be patient. The servant told the judge that the other servant owed him money, and the other servant was thrown into prison. The servant had to stay in prison until he could pay everything he owed. All the other servants saw what happened. They felt very sorry for the man. So they went and told their master everything that happened. "Then the master called his servant in and said, 'You evil servant. You owed me much money, but you begged me to forgive your debt. So I told you that you did not have to pay anything. So you should have given the same mercy to that other man that is a servant with you. You should have given him the same mercy that I gave you.' Themaster was very angry, so he put the servant in prison to be punished. And the servant had to stay in prison until he could pay everything he owed. "This king did the same as my heavenly Father will do to you. You must truly forgive your brother or sister, or my heavenly Father will not forgive you."

— Matthew 18:21-35 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.