Verse: Matthew 6:9-13
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
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.’
Devotion
Forgiveness is a powerful force.
Forgiveness says that we are free. Free from the debt of our actions. Free from the guilt you and I have rightfully acquired. Free from the shame of being and doing things we’d rather not tell other people.
Forgiveness is the Control-Z of the spiritual life. It’s a redo. It’s a second, and third, and millionth chance. Forgiveness says, “you are more than your mistakes. You are more than your worst moments.”
Forgiveness calls us to ownership and accountability. It doesn’t allow us to gloss over when we hurt others. It doesn’t allow us to blameshift. In order to be forgiven we must first admit our need for forgiveness, which therefore requires us to own it. Own it, but don’t live in it. Be accountable, but don’t self flagellate.
Forgiveness believes the best is yet to come for us. It sees beyond our sinful tendencies, our weaknesses, our repeated attempts to be good enough on our own without God’s help, and calls us upward to a self found in the grace of Jesus. A self who is empowered by the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. It calls us to be the people God has always intended for us to be.
Thank God for his forgiveness. Thank God that his mercy never ends. Thank God that is grace is sufficient!
Author: Christian Dunn
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