Friday, October 9, 2026

Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Deuteronomy 10-12 | 3 John 1

Who remembers the ShamWow?

If you do, I bet the infamous infomercial guy, Vince Offer, just popped into your head, holding up one of those towels after soaking up an entire bowl of water. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, ShamWow towels were advertised as super absorbent, multi-purpose, non-abrasive, washable, and reusable. You could soak up a large amount of liquid, wring it out, and do it all over again.

I'm not bringing up ShamWow to give you an infomercial flashback. As I've been thinking about what it means to forgive others and pursue reconciliation in our relationships, those ridiculously absorbent towels came to mind.

When it comes to forgiveness, Jesus calls us to absorb the cost of an offense, address it, then move on.

In fact, Jesus says:

Luke 17:3-4
…"If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive."

Jesus isn't saying we should keep a tally and forgive exactly seven times. He's showing us that forgiveness isn't meant to have a small, carefully guarded limit.

So how do we keep forgiving over and over again?

Forgiveness requires faith: Faith that God's forgiveness of us is real. Faith that he can work through our weakness. And faith that we can trust him with the justice, hurt, and desire for vindication we want to hold onto.

Luke 17:5-6
The apostles said to the Lord, "Show us how to increase our faith."

The Lord answered, "If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you!”

Forgiveness isn't about pretending the debt never existed. It's about deciding we don't have to keep carrying it.

That's where freedom begins, and we make room to live differently.

Friends, when we stop carrying debts God never asked us to hold, we become like the ShamWow - absorbing the offense, then wringing it out to truly release and forgive the one who wronged us.

This is how we step out of the prison of unforgiveness, love our enemies, and live out the gospel through forgiveness.

Questions:
What does it look like for you to be "absorbent" with God's mercy in your current relationships?

Where are you tempted to keep a record of wrongs instead of absorbing the cost?

Next Steps:
Reflect on your own experience of being forgiven by Jesus. How can you let that mercy soak in so deeply that it overflows into your actions this week?

Consider talking with a trusted friend or mentor about your struggle to forgive, and ask for prayer and support as you take a step toward absorbency.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for absorbing every debt and every wrong so I could be forgiven. Help me soak up your mercy so deeply that it spills out as forgiveness and love for others. Give me courage to release the things I'm tempted to hold onto, and let the freedom I find in you define my life. I love you, I trust you, and I worship you. Amen. 

Series Theme Verse:

Ephesians 4:15
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 

Written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content at CedarCreek Church.