DAY 05.
FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN
“…FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS…”
In Matthew 6:12, Jesus prays: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”
Here is another question I have wondered: If Jesus paid for and already forgave every one of my sins, why do I have to ask for forgiveness? Lets look at what 1 John says:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 JOHN 1:9 NIV
See, God is faithful and just. Jesus said it was finished and it was finished on the cross for us. Salvation was secured by Jesus. God will not change His mind. But it is up to us to respond to Salvation and to continue to receive it. The only way we can receive His work, is to agree with Him about our sin. That is called confession. When we fall short and agree with God about it, John says that He is faithful to forgive us and purify us from the root of those actions: our unrighteousness. Our unrighteousness is the parts of us that are not fully trusting or submitted to Him. He wants to heal us. He wants to wash us and make us new in those places. This is how God is transforming us into the likeness of Jesus (ROMANS 8:29).
Take some time and ask God to check your heart and life and show you areas where you might need to ask for His forgiveness.
When we turn away from our sins and receive His forgiveness, our hearts are more prepared to forgive others as well. So if you’re not necessarily in a place where you feel like you have fallen short, thats awesome! But take some time in prayer and remember what God has done for you. How He has forgiven you. Remember how patient He has been with you all of this time? Then thank Him for it. Ask Him to help you forgive others. We can even choose to forgive people in advance! How? Ask God to help you to have grace for others and decide that you are going to be a person of grace.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, that because we have been reconciled to God, we have become people and messengers of reconciliation for our world: “not counting men’s sins against them.”
‘This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ‘
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NLT
PRAY THIS:
Father, please show me any areas of my life where I am not in agreement with you. Show me where I have fallen short. Where I keep falling short, please forgive me and give me the grace and strength to turn to you. Cleanse me from the mindsets, attitudes and lies that are behind my actions that offend you. God help me to be ready with grace for others because you’re always ready with grace for me. I love you Lord, thank you for reconciling me through Jesus, even when I wanted nothing to do with you. Theres nothing like your love! Amen.
WORSHIP: