Matthew 6:12

PASSAGE: Matthew 6:12 - ...and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

PAUSE: Don't rush past this line in the Lord's Prayer! " give us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" We know the words, but do we live that out? Or does your prayer sound more like this: "Forgive me of my debts. And surely you understand I can't forgive So-and-so, because you saw what they did to me." Why do we expect no-strings-attached forgiveness when it comes to our own debts, but then we raise the bar when it comes to our offer of forgiveness? Nothing shuts down our relationship with God and with one another more than unforgiveness! Jesus is reminding us with this model of prayer, that when we remember how much we have been forgiven, we are set free to be radical forgivers of others! Our sinfulness against a perfect, Holy God has been forgiven completely based on nothing we have done to earn it. If you are ever tempted to withhold forgiveness to others, remember Christ's unconditional forgiveness toward you.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we praise You for how much You have forgiven us in Christ. Help us to choose to forgive others every time! Amen.