There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, "Father, give me my share of the estate." So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there he squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to the fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said, 'how many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; Make me like one of your hired servants.' So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
Lule 15:11-24
We hold the right to vengeance in our two hands, take one last longing look at it, and let it spill to the ground like a handful of water. With good riddance.
Lewis Smedes
Read
Ephesians 4:32; 1 John 1:9; The Art of Forgiveness by Lewis Smedes
Reflect
1. What has God taught you about forgiveness over the past week?
2. Which of your emotions typically prevent you from forgiving others?
3. What details jumped out at you from the story?
4. Which character from the story do you identify with the most?
5. What makes justice attractive?
6. What past grudges do you need to die to so that you can forgive someone?
7. Which of the steps from Smedes is the hardest for you to do and why?
8. What steps can you take to surrender your need for vengeance to Jesus this week?
Do
We rediscover the humanity of the person who hurt us. We surrender the right to get even. We revise our feelings toward the person who wronged us.