The UnWelcome Journey

The Unwelcome Journey

Stories to Grow By, part 4.

Have you ever gone on a journey you didn’t want to? We were excited to start our journey with Jesus. There was joy, forgiveness, love, acceptance and great peace driven by purpose. But at some point the journey begins to go up hill. Jesus begins to poke in closets you’d rather he stay out of. He asks you to go on trips you don’t want to go on. This text describes what for most is an unwanted part of their journey with Christ:

Text: Matt 18:21-26

• I think Peter asks the question hoping to prove a point. But Jesus doesn’t give him the answer he wants. And then, Jesus just keeps talking!
• Jerome Kerviel was the most indebted man on earth. French man, Owes former employer (French bank) $6,300,000,000. Jerome made fraudulent trades through computer hacking. Thrown in prison 3 years.

How do you collect 6.3 Bilillion from 1 person? San Diego Law professor Frank Partnoy, “Well, he’s obviously not going to be able to pay the fine. What happened to Kerviel is the financial equivalent of sentencing someone to life plus 100 years. They’ll likely reach some kind of agreement where a significant percentage of any money he makes for the rest of his life will be paid into a fund to cover the fine. He’ll be like Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the hill every day for the rest of his life.” That’s what it’s like to be indebted to God! But he set us free.

I. What Unforgiveness Does:

1. Unforgiveness Chokes . (Matthew 18:29-30)

2. Unforgiveness Stresses my (Matthew 18:31)

3. Unforgiveness Reveals (Matthew 18:32a)

4. Unforgiveness Displays (Matthew 18:32b)

5. Unforgiveness (Matthew 18:34)

In November 2009, Judge Jeffery Spinner, a Long Island judge lost it with a bank.

New York Post says, “One West took an 814 million federal bailout but have a record of cold bloodedly foreclosing on any homeowner owing money.” Diane/Greg Horoski begged O.W. work with them, restructure their loan so they could pay it. Bank raised adjustable interest rate (10.3% to 12.3%) Couldn’t pay, case was sent to settlement. Bank demanded payment in full or lose house. Judge Spinner said: “One West’s conduct was inequitable, unconscionable, vexatious and opprobious.” He canceled the debt. Forgave 500k in debt.

II. A Spiritual Path Forward:

• Confess (Hebrews 12:15)
• Trust God to (Romans 12:18-21)
• Ask for the (Philippians 4:8)
• Personalize the cross.

This is where discipleship gets real!

ILLU: April 25, 1958: In-Ho Oh was a 26-year-old graduate student from Korea studying at the University of Pennsylvania. On April 28, 1958, he was walking from a mail box back to his home when he was beaten to death by a group of 11 black youth who had been turned away at a neighborhood dance, according to reports at the time. His uncle, Ki Hang Oh, who founded and ran Philadelphia’s first Korean-American church from 1953 until his death in 2006, housed In-Ho Oh in the family home. Philadelphia wanted vengeance! Arrest, DA try them as adults. Letter arrived from Korea, signed by the parents and 20 other relatives. It read in part:

‘Our family has met together and we have decided to petition that the most generous treatment possible within the laws of your government be given to those who have committed this criminal action. In order to give evidence of our sincere hope contained in this petition, we have decided to save money to start a fund to be used for the religious, educational, vocational and social guidance of the boys when they are released. We have dared to express our hope with a spirit received from the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ who died for our sins.”

(https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/very-healing-story-how-1958-killing-can-help-bridge-communities-n619896)