Forgiveness

Prayer Lessons – Day 3

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Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:11 KJV

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Going for walks around the neighborhood with our grandchildren is one of the highlights of our visits with them. Whether we are examining leaves together or stopping at the corner store for ice cream; what matters is that we are doing it together.  Praying for daily bread and forgiveness is just the same. Though they appear to be totally unrelated items they are both part of our daily walk around the neighborhood with Jesus.  P1040060

When we are praying for daily bread we are simply showing our Heavenly Father that we are depending on Him even for the simplest of matters. Then when we stumble and fall down while we are with Him we can immediately turn and ask forgiveness. He is willing to freely give but He also reminds us that forgiveness given comes with His gracious expectation that we learn to be forgiving as well. Through each line of this prayer Jesus wants us to know that our relationship to Him is what matters most. Whether we need daily bread or forgiveness of sins He wants us to trust in His care and discover the joy of an childlike dependence on Him.

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God’s construction Zone

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As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20 ESV

A few years ago the street in front of our house was closed for construction while the city re-worked the storm drains. The job was complicated by an underground brook that also ran under the road and the project ended up being dug up and filled in four or five times. During one phase when the work of smashing and pounding was still going at11 p.m.; I put on my jacket and marched down the street to complain. The polite young foreman of the job explained that he was really sorry; but since they had dug up the road it had to be filled in before morning.

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Joseph’s life reminds me of our construction zone. First he was beaten, thrown into a pit and sold into slavery; by his brothers. In his new life, God began blessing Joseph and soon things started looking up then – wham! He was arrested and thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  But even in prison Joseph was blessed and years later God used him to interpret the pharaoh’s dreams and he was promoted to governor of the kingdom. Joseph’s key to success was that he understood construction zone living. He didn’t become bitter or use his position to retaliate against his brothers. Instead he helped those same guys who had thrown him into the pit. Joseph was able to forgive because he knew that no matter how many times his plans were torn down or dug up; that God had a way of turning it all into good. He knew that when things in life got turned upside down that God would work overtime until he turned into good and had the road of his life filled in by morning!

Short Prayers Beat Long Speeches

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“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Luke 18:10 ESV

These two guys had a lot in common. . They both had jobs, families and bills and maybe were even neighbors. One morning they both decided to go to the prayer meeting. Maybe the Pharisee even smiled and nodded as he passed the tax collector on the street. But once inside the church door things began to change.

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The Pharisee went up front to the altar and began a long monologue about what a great guy he was. As he recited all his wonderful qualities he smiled then raised his voice for the big finale, “Thank God I am better than that tax collector over there: Amen!”

The tax collector on the other hand woke up that morning realizing what a mess he had made of his life. Maybe he remembered his mother’s prayers and his father’s tears over the life he had chosen to live. So he slowly set out for church where he hadn’t been for years and looked for a private corner to pray. “God forgive me, I’m the biggest sinner in town.” He said. Not knowing what else to add, he said, “Amen!” then turned and left.

As God cupped His ears to listen, He soon grew weary of the Pharisee’s loud but as He listened to the tax collector he began to smile. Then God sent off a special delivery package of forgiveness along with a personal invitation for dinner. On the return address was clearly written, “Jesus friend of sinners!”