God Stopped Keeping Score
Matthew 18:21-35
Illustration
by William J. Carl, III

For Toyohiko Kagawa it was the slums of Tokyo. For Dom Helder Camera, it's the slums of Brazil. For Mother Theresa it was the slums of Calcutta. For Jesus Christ it was all humanity mired down in the slum of its own sin on Calvary. As they taunted him and crucified him, I'm sure the disciples and others wondered why Jesus didn't retaliate. Whatever happened to good old divine retribution? Instead he hung there and took it. Why? Because long ago he figured out that God had stopped keeping score. If God has stopped keeping score on us, why are we still keeping score on those around us?

Father, forgive us, for we know not what we do.

CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Church People Beware!, by William J. Carl, III