You’re Not Really Sorry!

ALL – Psalm 83:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 13:4
OT – Joshua 9:3-10:43
NT – Luke 16:19-17:10

Have you ever had someone hurt you frequently enough that you just began to expect he/she would hurt you? Have you had a person like that say sorry? Over and over and over, saying sorry and asking for forgiveness, but never changing?

At some point you just want to scream, “You’re not really sorry!”

When people aren’t sorry enough to change, sorry enough for repentance that goes deeper than the words, “I’m sorry,” it becomes really hard to forgive. Why? Because we begin to expect more pain, more frustration, more sin. We just know it’s coming.

But Jesus still calls us to forgive those who claim to be repentant:

Rebuke your brother if he sins, and forgive him if he is sorry. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns and asks forgiveness, forgive him. – Luke 17:3b-4, The Living Bible

We are to be quick to forgive, quick to show mercy, quick to reconcile. Even with the most habitual offenders.

How have you shown forgiveness recently?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

The rest of this week's readings are:

April 15th, 2010

ALL – Psalm 84:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 13:5-6
OT – Joshua 11:1-12:24
NT – Luke 17:11-37

April 16th, 2010

ALL – Psalm 85:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 13:7-8
OT – Joshua 13:1-14:15
NT – Luke 18:1-17

April 17th, 2010

ALL – Psalm 86:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 13:9-10
OT – Joshua 15:1-63
NT – Luke 18:18-43

April 18th, 2010

ALL – Psalm 87:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 13:11
OT – Joshua 16:1-18:28
NT – Luke 19:1-27