Through the Bible - Isaiah 38-40, Colossians 1
Good morning,
For today's verse we'll return to the Lord's prayer. The prayer is a model prayer for the disciples and for us. The subject matter is to repeated often. You may notice that the first three petitions center on the greatness of God while the next three reveal our smallness and dependence on Him.
Today's verse focuses on forgiveness.
J.I. Packer writes, "People have wondered why people need to pray this (for forgiveness) since God as our judge has already justified us and will not now hold our sins against us. The reason is that our constant sins of omission and commision strain and spoil the parent - child relationship between Him and us. Just as the prodigal could not enjoy his relationship with his father until he came home and asked for forgiveness, neither can we. Pardon in God's courtroom is once and for all, but forgiveness in God's family needs to be renewed over and over again. And those who know that they live by God's pardoning mercy will show it by conscientiously forgiving others."
Matt 6:12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors. NKJV
Carrying guilt around can be like carrying extra baggage. It hinder and burdens you and can just wear you down.
I read the following quote from Richard D. Phillips on Hebrews this morning and thought that it applied.
“There is no greater burden in this world than the guilt of our sin. Other burdens weary the feet or the back; this burden wearies the soul. People who abhor the idea of a blood-shedding God may write platitudes about the goodness of man. People may say that we are finding our destiny out of a Darwinian soup. Perhaps we are not yet what we might be, but we are certainly not guilty, they insist. But in a moral universe ruled by a holy God, such words will not wash away the reality of the things we have done.
If you come to recognize how your words have torn the hearts of others as knives tear the flesh; if you think for just a moment how your neglect of duty and selfish pursuit of gain have meant sorrow and woe for real people; if you merely ask how many men and women in this world have real cause to resent you, to wish you had never crossed their paths; if you take stock of God’s holy and unyielding law and your incessant violation of it, then your conscience will speak against you about what you really are and deserve. You will crave a cleansing such as Christ alone can give.”
How is your relationship with God?
When was the last time you asked for God's forgiveness about something? When was the last time you did so with someone else? Get rid of the extra baggage, lighten the load and walk in God's grace.
Matt 6:9-14
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best —
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes. (from THE MESSAGE)
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 6:5-16
The Model Prayer
(Luke 11:2-4)
5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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