“Forgive Us Our Debts”

“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthews 6:9-15

When we feel wronged, we can come up with a hundred reasons against forgiveness. However, there are a number of reasons to forgive. We are commanded to forgive, as Christians. We are the children of a Father who forgives.

Forgiveness halts the cycle of blame and pain, breaking the chain of ungrace. Without it we remain bound to the people we can’t forgive.

Forgiveness loosens the stranglehold of guilt in the perpetrator. It allows the possibility of transformation in the guilty party, even if a just punishment is still required.

Forgiveness creates a remarkable linkage, placing the forgiver on the same side as the party who did the wrong. We are not as different from the wrongdoer as we would like to think.

He who cannot forgive others

burns the bridge over which he himself must pass.

Our Daily Bread – October 9, 2008