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Read: Matthew 6:12
Listen: Matthew 6

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12

Sin is a debt—we have wronged God through our disobedience and are liable for the consequences. But God, through the person and work of Jesus, took our debt to the cross and paid for our sins in their entirety. The debt we owed was paid through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Now, there is full forgiveness granted to those who place their trust in Jesus for salvation. Elsewhere, Jesus likened this to a man who essentially owed trillions of dollars in debt but was forgiven in full (see Matt. 18:21-35). Anyone forgiven such a debt should surely forgive others in return.

To be people of forgiveness, we need to know and embrace the forgiveness of God found in Jesus. Such a commitment to forgive others includes a posture of forgiving past wrongs and even a posture of being willing to forgive sins in advance. Such forgiveness does not mean welcoming abuse or blindly trusting all people. But it does mean extending the same sort of heart posture that has been extended toward us. We have a God who has forgiven us much. So, we are to be people who forgive others in return.

PRAYER DAY #4: Forgiving others can be challenging and complicated. Pray the Lord’s Prayer and as you get to “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” take time to consider if there is anyone in your life that you need to forgive (or ask for forgiveness). After reflecting upon this, bring this person before God in prayer. In forgiving this person, consider praying something like this: “Father, I release ___________ from how they have wronged me. The only way I can forgive much is because you have already forgiven me much. Please help me receive your forgiveness and extend forgiveness in return.”