Seventy Times Seven – Stepping in the Light

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22

At the beginning of Matthew chapter 18, the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him which one of them would be the greatest. Jesus answered by placing a child in their midst and telling them that they needed to humble themselves as a child if they truly wanted to be great. Jesus then continued to teach them and it seemed that He changed subjects several times, but each new topic was related in some way to how much God values us and how that should impact the way we value each other. In verses 15-17, Jesus explained how to deal with another person within the church who has wronged us. When Jesus finished speaking, Peter asked, “When someone wrongs me, how often must I forgive them?”

As it relates to the rest of the passage, forgiveness is all about value. We naturally tend to see ourselves as more important than everyone around us, but all of us are equally valuable to God. Considering this truth will help us understand why He wants us to forgive each other. Was Jesus suggesting that when someone wrongs us, we need to begin keeping a tally? That’s one. Only four hundred sixty-nine more times, and I’ll never have to forgive you again! I don’t think so. I believe that Jesus was saying that He wants us to learn to be forgiving.

Morning: Exodus 19-20

Evening: Matthew 18:21-35

About This Site

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

If you were to find yourself walking down a path in the dark of night with only an old-fashioned lantern to light the way, you wouldn’t be able to see very far ahead. You would be able to see just enough of the pathway to know which direction to take your next step and enough of the ground to choose the best place for your feet. When it comes to our daily lives, God’s Word is a lot like that lantern. It will not show us the whole path at once, but it is exactly what we need to help us decide how to take the next step.

The Bible is our source of spiritual light, and if we consistently seek God’s direction as we read from its pages, we will always have enough light for our next step along the pathway of life. It is then that we are, in the words of an old gospel song, “stepping in the light.”

The goal of this devotional guide is to encourage you to spend time in the Word of God each day. Reading the passages listed at the bottom of the page will take you all the way through the Bible in one year. The devotional thought for each day is taken from a text within that day’s reading, so even that small daily portion of reading will take you on a journey through God’s Word. It is my prayer that this guide would help you to walk closer to the Lord and that you will find yourself taking each step in the light of His Word.