One has to read this portion almost in it entirety to get to the point of the matter. If we talk about love, what are we talking about. Forgiveness is key in the action toward love. Jesus is clear if we offended one the little child it be better to tie a milestone around one's neck and be drowned in the river. I do not know adult that at sometime probably did say something to hurt a child. Children are innocent, naive and have a lot yet to learn about life. They take what you give them and only ask for more if they are spoiled rotten. There humility coming from not of want or need, but within and few kids are humble today so i have to ask what would Jesus say about the kids of this world. Probably tell parents they spare the rod and they spoil the child a little too often.

Is the spoiling of our children having impact on today's society. It not a whipping or beating that necessarily necessary in the correction of children today. One of the greatest life lesson taught a child is the need to work and earn a living. That those possessions bought cost something and not everything in life is free. That when diasaster fall there is another day and another day to try to change one's life for the better. These lesson are easier to learned as a child then as adult. Yet we all face the battle of life. The battle of life is to be that citizen that does not have to worry about being charged with a crime for breaking the law of our land and being punished for a crime. Today we do not cut off hands and feet, but if we did society be in fear of the laws perhaps more then before.

I remember a story of a child at a party and all the children were popping their balloons in a game where the balloon was tied to one of their feet. One child came up to me and said I don't want to tie the balloon to my foot, i want to take it home with me. I without thinking said sure why not. I had no clue if there were other balloons. What I found out later that day was the granddaughter of the woman throwing the party for the children. I think back and I wonder what toys did this child have at home that the one balloon was so important to her. It is life that often we grab hold of that one thing that is precious to us and try to keep it for ourselves. When we protect someone from the harsh cruel world it perhaps because instead of going to the world we address that person individually. However when it handled individually with a negative recourse it then done before the church to correct a protential problem affecting the church, and then it handled by going to the court of law, if it is a legal issue.

Then Peter hearing all Jesus had to say ask how many times do I have to forgive my brother. And Jesus says 77 x 7. Not not to many of us keep score but i suspect there is some that would try too. Here is the point, When we hurt someone deeply we often pay for it, either with guilt or criminal punishment. The question not who is at fault but take responsibility and owning up to your error. To be humble as a child and say I am guilty as charged and coming to repentance.

Our Heavenly Father calls us to repentance through Christ Jesus, and our confession and payment of sin to God before Christ died for our sin was through sacrifice, and after Christ sacrifice was no longer important for Christ had paid for our sins upon belief in Christ. If we live in a world where no judgment comes for small matters, will people understand when it comes to bigger issues. The answer is found in a story that made wide news of forgiveness of a man killed in a family by an officer, who forgave the officer, though the officer had to pay for the crime.

There is a point no one wants to be judged for a crime without being forgiven, but forgiveness can only come when there is repentance except for sin that God overlooks. David talks of this sin and I have to ask how many of us fail as humans to be humble enough to repent. How many of us are humble enough to say I am sorry as a child when caught in trouble and knowing only one way out is repentance. As we kneel in prayer and ask God to forgive us and receive Christ as Lord for the price he paid for our sin, do we do it with blaming another or taking responsibility of our own actions.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for today, bring us to our knees a child to repentance so that we will come humbly before the throne take responsibility for our actions and receiving Christ sacrifice for our sins. in Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Psalm 32:2 KJV
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.