Week 5 | Day 5 | Embracing Forgiveness and Extending Grace

Command:

Forgive offenders. Matthew 18:21-25 (NIV)

Read:

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

Reflect:

In this verse, Jesus emphasizes the value of forgiveness in our interactions with God and other people. By asking God to "forgive us our debts," we confess our need for his grace and mercy. We acknowledge that we owe a debt of sin because we have fallen short of his ideal standard. Through this prayer, we humble ourselves and request God to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The second line of the prayer, "as we also have forgiven our debtors," serves as a reminder that forgiveness involves forgiving others as well as forgiving yourself. Jesus focuses on the mutually exclusive relationship between asking for and offering forgiveness. Our capacity for forgiveness comes from a heart that has known the fullness of God's mercy and grace.

When we choose to forgive people, we choose to release them from their obligation to repay us and to show them compassion, mercy, and love in the same way that God has shown them to us. We are freed from the bonds of bitterness, resentment, and rage when we forgive. It is an act of submission and a manifestation of God's nature in us. We mirror the transforming power of God's forgiveness and welcome his healing into our relationships by forgiving others.

React:

What steps could you take to better comprehend the extent of God's mercy in our own lives? Are there any outstanding disputes or grievances that prevent you from forgiving others? How can you move toward reconciliation and forgiveness? How can you develop a spirit of mercy toward those who have harmed you, that reflects the compassion and grace of God?

Pray:

Gracious Father, I come before you and acknowledge my need for your forgiveness. I thank you for the tremendous grace you have extended to me through Jesus Christ. Please help me to completely comprehend the extent of your forgiveness, so that it can influence my views and behavior toward others. Give me the ability to forgive those who have harmed or wronged me as you have done for me. May your grace and kindness flow through me to repair and rebuild connections. In Jesus' name, amen.