By David Faust
Dad was in hospice care, and we had some unfinished business. I remembered a debt I owed him. In my late teens, I had saved money for college, but I also needed transportation, so Dad loaned me the funds to buy a used car. I began repaying him bit by bit, but then I got married, babies came along, and we had a lot of bills. Years later I still owed Dad about $1,000 for the car, but he never asked me for the money.
In the hospital with my dying father, I said, “Dad, a long time ago you loaned me money to buy a car, and it bothers me that I never repaid you. I owe you $1,000 plus interest.”
Dad shook his head and said, “I honestly don’t remember that. But if it’s true, I forgive the debt.”
A few days later, I mentioned that conversation to my adult daughter, Michelle. “Dad, that reminds me,” she said. “Do you remember the time when I was a kid, and I stole a bag of dimes? For some reason we had a bag of dimes in a desk drawer, and I took them. Later I cried and said I was sorry for taking the coins, and you didn’t punish me.”
I told her, “Honestly, Michelle, I don’t recall that incident at all.”
Multiplied Mercy
Do you ever struggle to give and receive forgiveness? Simon Peter wondered how many times it was necessary to forgive. Up to seven times, perhaps? In Hebrew thought, seven was the number of completeness—and by the seventh time, most of us probably assume we have forgiven enough. But the Lord’s multiplied mercy extends far beyond what is expected and predictable.
Translations vary. Did Jesus say to forgive 77 times or 490 times (70 times seven)? Either way, the point is the same. God lavishes so much grace on us, who could count all the sins he forgives? To amplify the lesson, Jesus told a parable about a gracious master who canceled a servant’s enormous debt, but later that same man unmercifully oppressed a fellow servant who owed him a small amount of money. (See Matthew 18:21-35.)
I wonder if Peter remembered that story on the day Jesus cooked breakfast for his disciples on the beach of the Sea of Galilee. A few days before, Peter repeatedly denied knowing Jesus. But now, for each of those three denials, the risen Christ gave Peter the opportunity to reaffirm his love. (See John 21:1-17.)
Peter could never repay what he owed the Lord. Neither can we. But Peter could love and serve the one who graciously forgave his debt. And so can we.
David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years.
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