Good morning, and Happy Birthday, America!
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” [Matthew 6:9-13]
“Forgive us our debts…”–or, as many churches pray, “Forgive us our trespasses…”. This is an important part of the Lord’s Prayer because, unless you’ve never sinned, we must ask God to forgive us. God hates sin, but He also understands we are born with a sinful nature: “…for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” [Romans 3:23].
“…as we also have forgiven our debtors.–similarly, many churches pray, “…as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Note the ‘order’ of the forgiveness equation. We cannot ask for God’s forgiveness until after we have forgiven our debtors/trespassers. How can we ask God to forgive us if we can’t forgive others? Do you think forgiveness is an important concept to God? Well, let’s start with the fact that ‘forgive’ and it’s derivatives are mentioned in the Bible 144 times. For example: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” [Ephesians 4:32]
Sometimes forgiveness can be difficult, and everyone’s situation is different. But may I be so bold as to suggest our situations cannot be as difficult as, when Jesus had nails through His hands and feet, prayed: “…Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing….” [Luke 34,b,c]. Even though Jesus was sinless, please remember that He was not dying for His own sins, but for ours. Yours. Mine.
I am compelled to conclude this email with one final admonition from Jesus about the importance of forgiveness:
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” [Matthew 6:14-15]
Is forgiveness always easy? No. Is forgiveness important? Seeing as how Jesus mentions it twice in His prayer, I would say yes.
Blessings,
Keith