SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “Attitude And Action”
DAILY BREAD: A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN
Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries Department
THEME: I WILL GO
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Topic: Attitude and Action
“ The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle ¬accounts with his servants.” Matthew 18:23
The parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23-35 tells of how not to act in the kingdom of heaven. In fact, acting like the unforgiving servant would prevent us from entering or remaining in the kingdom! This teaching is harsh indeed—but that is mainly a reflection on the actions of the servant who refuses to forgive another.
The parable starts out with the words “The kingdom of heaven is like a king,” and it ends with “this is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless . . .” So although this may be called the parable of the unmerciful servant, it is ¬actually a parable about the forgiving King and Father of us all. The king is merciful in forgiving the large debt, which reminds us that the Lord, our King, has canceled our debt of sin. The parable reminds us that God is both merciful and forgiving, and Jesus is teaching that we should be like the King. We are to be merciful and forgiving—from the heart—just as God is merciful and forgives us.
God knows this is a challenging and difficult task! When we have been hurt by others, we usually want to hurt them back. But, as we are reminded in Romans 12:19, God says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.”
So we are called to forgive. And when we forgive others, we are actually freed to love and care about them too.
Song
- Forgive our sins as we forgive,”
You taught us, Lord, to pray;
But You alone can grant us grace
To live the words we say.
2
How can Your pardon reach and bless
The unforgiving heart
That broods on wrongs and will not let
Old bitterness depart? Prayer
God, my King, forgive the sins I have done,
I pray, just as I forgive those who did wrong to me, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
