Free

There it was that dreaded green ticket sitting under my windshield. It was a $35.00 ticket but the problem is that I had no idea why I had gotten it. I had paid the parking station and displayed my receipt. I looked again at signage and still could not figure it out. A police car pulled up behind me and I asked them to explain what I had gotten a ticket for and they said you are not allowed to park as close as you did to the intersection. But, how was I to know? There were no red lines, no signs etc. So, I went to the parking adjudication office downtown to dispute my case , complete with pictures on my phone as proof of non existent signage or boundary markers, the receipt that showed I was not over in my time limit compared to the time stated on the ticket, and my ticket that was well within the time frame to pay without penalty. Before I even finished my speel and showed all my pictures, he said I will dismiss it.
But he did say that in most states the law is that you cannot park within 20 feet of a major intersection, so be on watch next time. I thanked him and went on my way, grateful that I had been cleared of my offense.

In our lives each day we unconsciously and consciously submit to behavior that we should be cited for. Sometimes we do get a glaring gaze or a confrontational soundbite that causes us to get our feathers up in a defensive mode but oh how often has God dismissed our intentional and unintentional blunders and forgiven us according to his grace. And then we have to turn around and think how often we have dismissed the blunders of others. There is a bible story, that I heard again just recently about the man who went to his overseer and owed him a great amount of money, and the debt was cleared out of the grace and mercy of the boss. Then sometime later that same man was owed a sum of money by one of his kind and he demanded a payback or a severe penalty would occur.

Matthew 18:23-35
"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. "At this the servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go."But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded."His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.'"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened."Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed."This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

I left the ticket office being exonerated and freed of penalty of something that I had done against the laws of the state. It did not matter that unknowingly crossed over a line of rule, what mattered is that I did it and I was given a pass. Jesus gives us each passes each day, but I know that I sometimes react just as this man did and I hold a grudge over someone that has hurt me or someone in my family or I can even hold a grudge over someone who has hurt one of my friends. But God says no...you have to forgive as I have forgiven you. It is a simple practice but sometimes a hard avenue to pursue. But the deal is that unforgiving hold that we, I suspect that you too have some ill willed feelings of others, grip so tightly has a tendency to contaminate our vessel of God given joy, and the baggage that we carry from it becomes a burden that holds us down in, and engraves upon us a huge chip on our shoulder that keeps us unbalanced.

Just as the master had the authority to waive the debt to an undeserving servant, we too have that ability with those who have caused us grief.
Sometimes we are in the position of the debtors and sometimes we are the forgivers. When we sit on the judge's side of the desk.... our judgment is cantered by grace or penalty...and it is often our pride that causes us to take the side of penalty, it makes us feel better and bigger. And we want someone else to hurt as we have been hurt, and pay for what has been said or done. How can I possibly be so bold to think that I am above forgiving and accepting forgiveness when all that has been done for me by Christ is clear evidence that I was undeserving and continue to be undeserving and have been cleared once and for all for all of my wrongdoings.

We have been ticketed, each of us according to our own inability to stay within the bounds of righteous living. We know what we are suppose to do, how we are suppose to act and what God's simple living rules are especially when it is in relation to others...but we get caught up in emotions and pride and selfish motives and tend to sidestep HIS boundaries. Thank God for Jesus who had the heart and soul to die for our transgressions and free us from the penalty of eternal death. Imagine that...in spite of all of our blunders and stuff, we are free to be accepted into the kingdom of our great God and Savior, forgiven and blessed to be called children of God.

Aren't we called to act in this same way to others? Giving a pass when it is undeserved? Forgiving when we have been hurt or unfairly treated...It is hard sometimes to let go of a feel good grudge but holding into to it does nothing but touts us into a spin of despair and discontent. Just not worth it! It steals our joy. Today may we make a concerted effort to ask God to loosen our fists and let go of anything that is not worthy of His praise...
And set us free!

Dear Lord, Thank you for redeeming us in spite of our many infractions. Help us to be more aware of your guidelines and to live within the life boundaries that you have spoken through your word and the example that you have lived. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!