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TODAY’S WORD…

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“… Forgive us our sins,
for we forgive everyone who does us wrong…”

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– Luke 11:4a (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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When asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray,

Jesus recited what we call “the Lord’s Prayer”, or the “Our Father”.

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In His prayer, Jesus emphasises

that when we seek God’s forgiveness for our wrongdoings,

we must have forgiven those who did us wrong.

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To expect God to forgive us

while insisting that we do not forgive others

goes squarely against what Jesus Himself instructed us to do

when He taught us:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

This is the greatest and the most important commandment.

The second most important commandment is like it:

“Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’” (Mat 22:37,39)

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Expecting God to forgive us

while insisting that we can not forgive others

is arrogance and hypocrisy at their worst.

If we are like this, we are challenging God

and consciously discounting

how serious and important it is that God pardons us our sins.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord God,

I come before You with a contrite heart.

Give me the strength and the spirit of humility to forgive others,

so that I may truly love You,

and that You may forgive me.

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