Forgive Us
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
– Matthew 18:21-22
Forgiveness is tricky. We want it for ourselves. We want God to forgive us and remove our sins as far as the east is from the west; to wash us clean, whiter than snow. But we often struggle with forgiving other people who have wronged us. We hold on to hurts, we carry grudges and anger. Peter wanted justification. He wanted to know just how gracious and generous he had to be with his forgiveness… seven times? Was seven times enough? Jesus’ reply of seventy-seven times, (or seventy times seven in some translations), essentially meant don’t keep track. Just keep forgiving.
When we truly consider the gift of forgiveness given to us freely through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, we acknowledge the power of God’s amazing grace. Jesus’ desire is that we in turn extend that gift of grace to other people. Jesus also said, “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.” (Matthew 6:14-15) This was not to scare people into forgiving others. It was to explain how we deny ourselves the true gift of forgiveness and freedom in Christ when we withhold forgiveness from other people. God wants us to be free from guilt, shame, regret, revenge, hurt, grudges and anger. God desires us to live full and abundant lives. We cannot do this if we are overcome with the pain of the past.
Forgiving others does not mean we continue to place ourselves in a place to be hurt again, however. That involves reconciliation, which is not only up to us. The other person must be willing and ready to reconcile the relationship. May we experience true forgiveness as we forgive our debtors. Each section of the Lord’s Prayer aligns with the key themes of Lent: repentance, dependence, provision, forgiveness, and spiritual strength. This week we focus on forgiveness. We ask God to forgive us and empower us to forgive others.
Please join us this season of Lent for a weekly prayer service each Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Main Sanctuary as we practice each portion of the Lord’s Prayer together.
PRAYER
One: We are invited to pray for forgiveness of debts, for the year of jubilee that brings relief to ourselves and to those who owe debts to us.
All: Lord, in your mercy, reveal to us our true indebtedness.
One: The myriad ways you have paid our way in this world. Not so that we can attempt to buy our way out through good works and kind words, but so that we can give our whole-hearted thanks to you in word and deed.
All: May we be as generous with others as you have been with us, offering forgiveness, love, hope and grace where anger, resentment and rejection are expected. We lift our hearts to you, giving you glory, honor and praise. And we give you every need, every desire, every dream in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
