“The measure of love is to love without measure.”  St. Francis de Sales

We are once again being called to love and to forgive, but this time we’re reminded we can’t keep score.  

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Do as I say, not as I do”?

The last line of this passage reminds me a bit of that phrase.  

“Forgive not because they deserve it, but because Christ calls you to.”  

Matthew 18:21-22 – Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to 7 times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you up to 7 times, but up to 70 times seven.”

That’s a lot of forgiveness!

Truth be told, I’m not especially proud to admit there have been times I used the phrase ‘do as I say not as I do’ with my own kids.  

Sometimes it was tongue in cheek and sometimes it was likely in response to questions I wasn’t ready to, or in the mood to answer. 

The difference between the phrase and what Jesus calls us to do in this passage, is that He does exactly what he’s supposed to do.  

What He says and what He does…match. 

He is not asking us to do something he hasn’t done himself.  

To forgive without limits.  

He perfectly models the behavior he wants to see in us.  

I can almost hear Jesus saying, “Do as I say AND as I do”.

The question is…are we up to the task?

Heavenly Father, grant me a heart like Yours.  When I feel hurt, replace my bitterness with Your limitless mercy.  Help me to let go and forgive without limits, just as I have been forgiven. Amen.

“You don’t have to fix everyone.  Just love them, and let God do the rest.”

I had to read that a few times.  

You don’t have to fix everyone…how often do we try to do that?  

I’m not proud to admit it…but I suppose I do.  

I want to fix things. 

But sometimes, I’ll admit with humility, I want to fix people.  

I want to help them to be “better”.  

But, maybe if I’m being honest with myself, maybe I just want to mold them into the version I want to see.   

YIKES!…where did that come from?!? 

I knew this writing project would raise questions but I didn’t quite expect the self-awareness that might arise.

So what shall I do with this newly found awareness?

I’ll need to sit with it.  Sit with this passage.  And sit with God in prayer.

The passage reads, “mercy goes beyond what is owed and offers what is needed”.  

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36 

In those words I hear acceptance.  Seeing, hearing, loving, extending mercy…not judgement or critique. 

“In this way, we imitate God.  When we look at others through a lens of compassion, we begin to see them as God sees us:  Broken…but beloved.”

All of us are broken, in one way or another, even still…we are beloved.

“Father, let me mirror Your mercy today – in thought, word, action, and silence”.  Amen.

“Withdraw into your heart, and speak there with God who listens.” – St. Augustine

My quiet time each morning is the most precious part of my day.  

I usually rise before the sun, and before anyone in my home.  

I start the coffee and empty the dishwasher in the few minutes while it brews.  

I turn on a small light in the corner of my family room and I sit with God.  

I begin by offering my own little prayer of invitation…

“Come Holy Spirit.  Come be with me in this pocket of quiet prayer.  Help me to keep my heart open to God’s word, and to carry his message with me throughout my day.”

It’s during those quiet moments that I realize nothing else really matters.  The clutter on my kitchen counters, the laundry that needs to be done, the task list for the day.  

Everything can wait.  

My mornings are precious, they are mine and mine alone with God and I cherish them.   

The noise of life, the distractions, the chaos we endure each day, it’s all the work of the enemy to draw us away from Him.  

See Revelation 12:17 – So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Today’s passage is a subtle reminder that despite all of my lofty intentions for growth and progress, silence and stillness is the way.

I’ve learned God speaks in the silence. 

God listens in the silence. 

God knows our hearts.  

And he loves us always.

Psalm 46:10 – Be still and know that I am God.

Today…for me and for you, I pray for more stillness, more silence, more peace, more love.  Amen.