Wednesday: Hospitality
The Gospel for Every Day
Each day, we slow down to align our hearts with God’s Rhythms of Grace.
This series, we examine the portrait of the Extraordinarily Ordinary Christian Life.
This week, we meditate on the theme of Hospitality throughout Scripture.
Today’s Scripture
Harboring resentment often gets in the way of the life we’re called to. When asked about forgiveness, Jesus tells a parable to expose the hypocrisy of any of us who are forgiven much and welcomed by him, only to withhold forgiveness from others.
Reading slowly, let God convict you by his truth and overwhelm you by his grace in Christ.
Matthew 18:21-35
21 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?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When 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. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But 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.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When 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. 32 Then 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.”
Gospel Meditation
Prayerfully meditate on the Scripture you just read using the rhythm Look Up, Look In, Look Out:
Look Up: What does this reveal about God?
Look In: What does this reveal about me?
Look Out: Where is Christ leading me today?
Closing Prayer
Inspired by Luke 7:36-50
Father,
Thank you for being the one who forgives sins and cancels debt,
My sins are many, and my debt to you is great
I repent and receive your forgiveness
Help me today to live in light of this great forgiveness
Help me to love, forgive, and welcome others like Jesus, in whose name I pray,
Amen
