#1041. Lets receive and give forgiveness in prayer (24/4/24)

This week, in our Luke series, we are reflecting on Jesus’ teaching on prayer from Luke 11:1-13. Today we consider the place of confession in prayer.

Luke 11:1–13

‘One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”’ (Luke 11:1-4)

Luke 11:1–4

Lesson: Giving and receiving forgiveness, as a daily habit, is vital for our health.

You can listen to this devotional at:

https://youtu.be/shdwcJcGfJI

This theme of giving and receiving forgiveness is about peace with God and with others. I’m sure that we all have those moments when we are stood with a group of people, one of whom, really needs a shower! It probably reveals my pride when, in such moments, I hope that no-one thinks that the smell is coming from me! We all, I trust, know how important it is to wash. However, do we regularly cleanse ourselves of the sin committed by us or against us through confession? How many of us allow our relations with God, with others and our inner peace to be infected and stink through lack of forgiveness! Like a gardener, we need to constantly deal with the weeds that threaten to grow up in our relationships.

Seek forgiveness

Firstly, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our sins”. As we go through the day, and at the particular moments of devotion, we are to ask the Father to forgive us. If we’ve lusted, been angry, lied, stolen, failed to keep a commitment, been fearful and anxious… we are to confess our sin, ask for forgiveness, and ask the Father to help you to change.

Give forgiveness

Likewise, as we go through the day and people sin against us, we are to be aware of this and purposely forgive them before God. We are to choose to allow God to be the judge rather than take on that role and become bitter and self-righteous. Unforgiveness, if unchecked, will imprison us; as any of us could break free from a few threads of cotton that bind us, so it only takes a few, ignored, small hurts to bind any of us, unbreakably, to jealousy, vitriol, hate and self-righteousness.

Response

Giving and receiving forgiveness as a daily habit is vital to our health. If we fail to continually forgive, our lives will leave behind a trail of broken relationships and churches that we have left. If we fail to forgive, it’s very likely that we are failing to regularly remember the gospel and God’s grace toward us. Jesus’ confronts such people with this example:

‘Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”’ (Luke 7:47-48)

Luke 7:47–48

Do you focus on seeking forgiveness from God or ruminating on your anger at others for the very things that you yourself have done! Those who focus on seeking forgiveness for themselves will find it much easier to have mercy on the failings of others and find it easy to extend the forgiveness that they know they need.