A Daily Devotion for Tuesday, September 15
Matthew 6:9-15
“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.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.“
Romans 12:19
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
The passage from Matthew has always confused me- specifically the last sentence, ‘But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.’ Knowing that our salvation comes from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and accepting Christ as our Lord, I get confused by this one small sentence spoken by Jesus. I read some things this morning, and will read more. I hope we have the chance to talk more about this at our meeting tonight. For now, I will say that I (perhaps somewhat superficially) understand the importance of forgiving others. Holding on to past grievances is not loving. Holding on to grievances is then a sin, in and of itself. Any sin separates me from God. Something I read this morning referred to Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Their bodies and minds were with Jesus, but their feet were in the world and needed to be washed. Their sins of daily living need to be fully removed to fully experience God’s love. Holding on to past grievances is like having dirty feet.
Holy Lord, help me to more fully understand your word. Even more importantly, I must live out what you will have me understand. Help me to search out my heart, and find those grievances I may be holding on to. May I fully love others. Amen
Becky, transforming
Matthew 6:9-12 / Romans 12:19
Forgiveness…easier said than done, especially when we have been hurt badly, even more so when we have been hurt by those we love. But God‘s mercy is given without reservation, so I should be willing to show forgiveness even when I am wronged badly. This is the example Jesus sets for me. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that wrongs are OK or that there are no consequences, it means releasing it into God‘s hands, I am not the judge.
Dear God, thank You for Your mercy. Please help me to extend that same mercy to others. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-15/Romans 12:19
Forgiveness can be a struggle. How many times are we to forgive? Jesus addressed that issue with Peter. I had the thought this morning that forgiveness of someone who repeatedly hurts you, every time they do so, may be the only pathway by which they can forgive themselves. In their self-hatred, whatever harm they are inflicting on themself may cease through the love conveyed by forgiveness from others. Loving forgiveness may help them see they can overcome the demons that are causing them great harm and bring reconciliation. The message to me is never stop forgiving.
Prayer - God of grace and mercy, please grant me a measure of Your grace and mercy to be able to…