Last night at our MidWeek gathering, I taught in our Leadership Pathway about how leadership is about stewardship. A leader is a steward. A leader is responsible for caring for, managing, and leading something that is not theirs; it has only been entrusted to them for a time. A leader is to steward what is entrusted to them according to the owner’s purpose and for the benefit of someone other than themselves.
During our session last night, we spoke about how a leader is a steward of their influence with a group of people. A leader is also a steward of their abilities and limitations. A leader is a steward of their calling and identity. Afterwards, I began thinking about forgiveness; it occurred to me that even forgiveness is a stewardship.
Forgiveness is a stewardship. The forgiveness we receive from God through Jesus Christ is not owned by us; we don’t deserve it and didn’t earn it. Even though we receive forgiveness from God, it still belongs to Him. Forgiveness is a stewardship; it is something we manage and care for by receiving it, applying it to our lives, and walking each day in freedom from guilt and shame. Forgiveness is also a stewardship; it is something the Master has given us to give away as freely as he has given it to us. This is why the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35 is so important for us to understand and apply to our lives. The Master has given us forgiveness to steward; it is for our benefit and for others and ourselves.
Forgiveness is a stewardship. How are you stewarding your forgiveness today?
This weekend, as we continue our teaching series on The Outsiders, Pastor Shauna will be talking about acceptance and forgiveness. We will look at Luke 7:36-50 and the story of someone unclean and unacceptable to everyone around them, yet precisely the person Jesus came to meet. I hope you’ll join us this weekend as we explore the power and impact of forgiveness in one woman’s life.
See you soon,
Pastor Kirk
