Daily Devotional: Sitting in the King's Seat
- David A. Case
- Feb 15
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
Life Sayings:
True forgiveness begins when we honestly acknowledge the wound, not bypass it.
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” — Matthew 16:19 (NKJV)
“If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” — John 20:23 (NKJV)
When someone wounds us deeply, especially when trust has been betrayed, it is natural to feel violated, angry, and entitled to justice. In those moments of pain, my focus was seldom on God’s heart for forgiveness. My instinctive response was to demand restitution, to sit in the “king’s seat” and pronounce judgment. I struggled with the tension between wanting justice and recognizing the call to forgive.
Jesus’ words in John 20:23 puzzled many scholars because they imply human involvement in the forgiveness process. “If you forgive anyone his sins…” sounds like authority placed in our hands. At first glance, that seems contradictory—after all, who can forgive sins but God alone? (Mark 2:7) But Scripture reveals that God created humanity in His image as a God of justice. That means our sense of justice is real, though it often conflicts with grace. God does not intend for us to suppress our need for justice. Rather, He invites us to understand it within His purposes.
God gave mankind dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26). That dominion includes a role in the forgiveness process. Jesus affirmed this when He told Peter and the church that what we bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven. God has tied His response to ours. Love and mercy flow through surrendered human hearts. When an offended person is truly allowed to sit in the king’s seat—to name the violation, to understand the cost, to choose whether and how to extend forgiveness—they are far more likely to release mercy.
Forgiveness does not erase what happened. Evil still has consequences. In Matthew 12:36–37, Jesus reminds us that we will give account for every word spoken. Nothing is wiped clean by human decree. Instead, there is a transfer—the offender’s penalty is absorbed through Christ. As we take our place in the king’s seat with humility, we recognize that forgiveness looks reality in the eye. It does not deny consequences. It chooses God’s way even when cost is evident and costly.
Reflection Question
Where do you find yourself resisting the idea of sitting in the king’s seat—naming the violation and acknowledging the cost—before you let go and forgive? What might fear, pride, or a desire for control be protecting?
Prayer
Lord, help me to see my wounds clearly. Give me courage to acknowledge the hurt and to bring it before You in honesty. Teach me to release others in Your timing and with Your grace. Shape my heart to reflect Your justice and mercy in equal measure.
Today’s Step of Obedience
Identify one situation where you feel wronged. Write down the specific violation and the emotions tied to it. Pray over what it would mean to release that person to God’s justice, acknowledging the cost without bypassing the truth of your hurt.
This devotional was inspired by the book Dead Dogs on the Highway by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through Dead Dogs on the Highway. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.
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