We have been talking about how we pray for about 6 weeks. Now, we find ourselves in Lent, which is the perfect time to deepen our relationship with God. But, before we move on from The Lord’s Prayer, there is one more lesson we must learn and it is a tough one.
The next week, we discovered within the Lord’s Prayer were two distinct sections, revealing God’s Holiness. Last week, we moved on to the “us” section, where we ask and God provides.
But there is this final and critical verse we cannot overlook. This is where we learn how important forgiveness is.
The Disciple’s Prayer
As we continue to learn how we pray, let’s reread the “us’ section.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
“Forgive lest you be forgiven.”
As we move through the structure of this prayer, Jesus saves the best for last.
Within the prayer, Jesus teaches us to ask God to forgive us, as we forgive others. Forgiveness leads us out of temptation and sin. That is when God saves us. Through forgiveness, we are set free.
If you have ever experienced this overwhelming forgiveness from God, you know what I am talking about.
Why is it so important we forgive in order for God to forgive us?
“The Message says it like this, “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.”
Unforgiveness blocks us off from God. A barrier which keeps us from experiencing all God has for us.
Unforgiveness blocks us from God.
Sometimes, I struggle with forgiveness. Not in the sense of God’s forgiveness, but in me forgiving others. If someone has wronged me, I want to hang on to the hurt and withhold forgiveness from them, as if they do not deserve it. But unforgiveness only hurts me and hinders my relationship with God.
Maybe you think you are not worthy of God’s forgiveness, because of the awful things you have done. Somehow, you think you do not deserve God’s forgiveness. In this situation, you are making this about you, not about God. And in turn, making God small. We have to keep it in perspective. God first, then us.
Forgiveness leads to freedom. By not forgiving, you are withholding God’s love from that person. And God never withholds love from us!
Ephesians 4:32 says; “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.”
When we forgive one another, we are mirroring God’s love to the world.
If we believe, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life,” then it is our obligation to love as Christ loves us. Forgive, as we have been forgiven.
I know I may be in over my head here, because I do not know what kind of issue, person or situation you might be struggling with. But this is what I do know, forgiveness is between you and God. God does the work. We cannot do it. By forgiving, we are set free. This is the power of forgiveness.
Let us pray;
Holy and gracious God, forgive us and equip us to forgive others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
P.S. Leave me a comment below because I love hearing from you. Forward this message to a friend and/or share on Facebook and tag me in it. Until next time… -M
