Forgive First

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Reflection: How lucky we are that Jesus did not come to this world to condemn but to seek the lost and bring them back to God.

Parable of the Lost Coin
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We feel bad when we see people get away with their evil ways, we always long to see them get punished for the bad things they did. But God does not aim to punish at once, His first action is to draw the sinner closer to Him and change their hearts. Jesus hang out with tax collectors and prostitutes which offended the religious authorities of His day. The pharisees and scribes do not hang out with public sinners because according to them they will be ritually defiled, meaning they will not be fit to perform their religious rituals. That's like saying that rituals are more important than love and mercy.

We are really blessed that God is slow to punish and quick to forgive. All of us without exceptions are worthy of God's wrath. When we sinned we have offended Him, and it is but right that He condemn and turn away from us. But God loves us sinners to the point of making the initiative to repair what was damaged by our sins. The offended was the one who reached out to the offender.

Let us thank God for His love and mercy and His readiness to forgive us who offended Him. May His grace help us to be thankful for his forgiveness and to help us be ready and willing to forgive as well.