Apologize – Timbaland Ft. OneRepublic
Reflection/Journal Questions:
- Why do people hold back on forgiving people?
- Is there a point where too much time has passed and too many disappointments have broken your heart for someone to expect forgiveness? Why or why not?
- Is it wrong to refuse forgiveness but still expect it for yourself? Why or why not?
- Does forgiving mean forgetting? Why or why not?
- What has helped you forgive people who have wronged you?
- What would life be like if God said it was too late to apologize?
Break open the Word:
Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
It’s anybody’s guess as to what was going on in Peter’s life when he asked Jesus this question. Maybe he had a fight with his wife. Maybe one of his kids was rebelling. Or maybe just someone cut him off in donkey traffic rush hour? Either way, Peter was probably hoping that at least after 7 times, he could get off the hook and write his own version of “Apologize.”
But Jesus gave him a very different answer than Peter expected… “Not 7 times, Peter, but 490 times!”
In other words, there are no limits on forgiveness.
Journal/Reflection:
1. Can we withhold forgiveness on the 491st offense? Why or why not?
2. What happens when we don’t forgive?
Break open the Word:
Matthew 18:23-35
That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."
Journal/Reflection:
- What is the point of this story?
- How is the unforgiving servant like Timbaland?
- What does Jesus mean when He says we’ll be sent to prison and tortured if we don’t forgive?
- What does it mean to forgive ‘from our heart’?
- How does Satan try to convince you that forgiveness is optional?
- How does knowing how much we’ve been forgiven by God help us forgive others?
- What are some specific ways we can apply this promise to our lives?
- How would your life be different if you truly let go of all unforgiveness?
Are you feeling like you’re in an emotional prison lately? If so, it might be linked to the fact that you’ve entered into ‘Timbaland,’ and you refuse to forgive someone who hurt you because it’s ‘too late.’
Good news… the key to the prison door that holds you captive is in the chambers of your heart. It’s called forgiveness, all you need to do is take it out and set yourself free. If you are having a hard time taking it out, ask Jesus to help you. Ask Him to give you the strength, because believe me, He has more than enough to share with you.
And when you look at it that way, it’s absolutely never too late!
(taken from source4ym.com)
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