As We Are Forgiven

Monday, December 5, 2022

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: John 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Memory verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Readings: DANIEL 1-2 1 JOHN 4

As We Have Forgiven

In Matthew 6, verses 5-15, is what we call 'The Lord's prayer'. Verse 12 says this:

"And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors."

This asks God to forgive us 'as we have forgiven'. The Lord fully expects us to forgive or we will not be forgiven. This is why the Lord taught us how to pray, "as we also have forgiven our debtors."

Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

The Lord teaches us to forgive those who have sinned against us so we can confess and ask forgiveness.

The divine sequence is:

We forgive...

So God will forgive us.

Never expect to ask forgiveness if you have not forgiven. How hard is that? I don't know about you, but I know myself and it is extremely hard for me to wrap my head around this. Sound funny? The reason for all this today is that we feel sometimes that we have a right to hold personal sin against someone. Someone has done something 'unforgivable'.

I want us all to look deep inside and look for folks who have sinned against us-someone who has really hurt us badly. Have we really forgiven and given it to the Lord? Have we really left it behind us or do we keep it 'hidden' so we can revisit it and stew over it more?

Yes, people do this. Why? We have not surrendered to the will of God. We do not like our 'freedoms' to be lost to righteousness. Well, the truth is the truth.

The Lord taught us to pray, "your kingdom come,

your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

If we just pray the words, we glaze over this. We do not hear what it says. Jesus teaches us to pray, as we seek His kingdom, we see the righteous behavior as we should see it-beings who are obedient-beings who honor God's name above all else-beings who live in complete honesty. God's will is seen perfectly in the behavior of the residents in God's heavenly kingdom. As we seek His kingdom, God reveals these things to us.

How can we see God's kingdom as it is if we don't seek God so He can show us how His kingdom is? There is not enough time spent seeking God-so what must we do?

>Pray for God to build an undying desire for us to constantly learn more from Him daily.

> pray for God to teach us how His freedom is learned in obedience in our forgiveness of others.

> Pray for God to teach us how to leave our denial behind.

We cannot be obedient by following our 'own hearts' and our own set of rules.

Remember: If you ever feel like you are the smartest one in the room, you are wrong. God is always the smartest one anywhere, anytime. This brings us back to 'hallowed be thy name'. Our respect for God, hallowing His name, means that to us God's name is above all others-especially our own.

If you are honest about seeking God, this should be encouraging. If you are not honest, this is negative.

Learn to be honest before God and God will heal this within you. That is all God has ever wanted-for us to be honest in His presence. God is always present. Why?

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me for not being honest and living in denial of my life and Your righteousness. Have mercy on me and teach me humility and obedience.

Righteous Father whose name is above all.

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen