As We Forgive Our Debtors

“ The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and headed for home, taking with them all the spoils of war and the food supplies. They also captured Lot- Abram’s nephew who lived in Sodom- and carried off everything he owned.

But one of Lot’s men escaped and reported everything to Abram the Hebrew, who was living near the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his relatives, Eshcol and Aner, were Abram’s allies. When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan.”

[Gen 14:11-14 (NLT)]

In the beginning of Genesis fourteen, it talks about a war of kings. While it doesn’t really mention the reasons for the war or the alliances between kings (assuming there are any), it does say there was a battle fought in the valley of the Dead Sea. The armies of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah (who were on the same side) fled. Leaving their land open for plundering, this was how Lot was captured.

Now Abraham (at that time Abram) had already given so much to Lot before then. He let Lot have the fertile land of the Jordan valley without any protest. When it was Abraham whom the Lord called in the first place. That land could have been his! And he still WITHOUT HESITATION tries to bail out his nephew?

“Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with all his possessions and all the women and other captives.”

[Gen. 14:16 (NLT)]

Not only did Abraham hold no resentment toward his nephew, he also REDEEMED him and his possessions when he was captured. Who else does this sound like?

“ When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified- one on his right and one on his left.

Jesus said ‘ Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’ And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” [Luke 23:33-34 (NLT)]

Even though we mocked him, even though we denied him, even though we KILLED HIM, Jesus has always been a REDEEMER for mankind. For he knew, even at the cross, why he came here. He knew that the day had come when HE WOULD PAY THE PRICE for both the living and the unborn.

Christians, Jesus died so that NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, the blood that he willingly let be spilled from him could be the same blood to wash away our sins. All we have to do is ask.

We all have people like the Roman officers; people who have mocked us, stolen from us, lied to us, taken advantage of us, HURT US. But we are the body of Christ. And that same blood that forgives so freely should be the same blood in which we live by. And even though you may feel you should HATE those who hurt you, you should LOVE THEM as Abraham loved Lot, like a close relative. You should love them the way JESUS LOVES YOU!

If we are to truly live in Christ, we cannot hate others. But instead we have to LOVE, FORGIVE, AND HELP HEAL.

May the Lord’s guidance be with you all,