1-800 How’s My Driving?

Colossians 3:12-17

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A12-17&version=NIV;NLT

 

After seeing one of these bumper stickers, have you ever wanted to call the 1-800 number to let them know just how bad the driver of vehicle # 50 really is? But then you cut off the guy in front of you so what can you say?

 

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

 

When we trespass against someone, we feel like they should forgive us. But it’s often a different story when we’re the one that is offended. Consider the parable that Jesus told about the unmerciful servant.

 

The first servant begged his master to forgive him his large indebtedness; which he did.

But then the same servant immediately refused to forgive a fellow servant the small amount he was owed. Here’s what led up to this parable.

 

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18 NIV

 

This is not a popular lesson. How many times should we forgive our boss or our employee? How many times should we forgive our spouse or parent or child? How many times should we forgive that difficult person who continually rubs you the wrong way? Paul wrote these words which addresses these questions.

 

¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.        Colossians 3 NLT

 

 “1-800 How’s my driving”, makes a clever bumper sticker. The idea behind it is to provide accountability; ultimately, to make the person behind the wheel a better driver. As followers of Christ, God has called us to become more like Him; in a sense, to be a better driver of our lives.

 

God’s character is to love and to forgive. But sometimes it’s hard for us to do that. However, all we have to do is call out to God, and He will answer. We don’t need a bumper sticker or an 800 number for that.