Author: mbaye

Scripture: Philippians 2:3–5 ReflectionOne temptation in relationships is to become experts at identifying the faults of other people while remaining unaware of our own. We can label others as difficult, selfish, or “toxic” while failing to notice the ways our own sin makes us difficult to love. Jesus’ parable calls us to a different posture. […]

Scripture: Ephesians 4:31–32 ReflectionThe servant in Jesus’ parable received astonishing mercy, yet he immediately demanded payment from someone who owed him much less. His problem was not that the second debt was insignificant. It was real, and it cost him something to forgive it. His problem was that he had forgotten the mercy he himself […]

Scripture: Romans 8:1–2 ReflectionIt is easy to hear the announcement of forgiveness without allowing it to sink deeply into our hearts. We know the words: Jesus forgives sins. But the Gospel invites us to stop and recognize what that actually means. The shameful thought God already knows? Forgiven. The hurtful word? Forgiven. The good we […]

Scripture: Romans 3:23–24 ReflectionJesus’ parable describes a servant who owes his master an impossible debt. The amount is intentionally overwhelming. There is no realistic way for the servant to repay it. That is a picture of our situation before God. Sin is not merely a collection of small mistakes. It is our failure to trust […]

Scripture: Matthew 18:21–22 ReflectionPeter asks Jesus a question many of us have probably asked in one form or another: How many times do I really have to forgive? There is a point when repeated offenses begin to wear us down. We may wonder whether we have reached the limit of the grace we are expected […]