FORGIVENESS

When Jesus told us to pray for forgiveness of our debts as we forgive our own debtors, He knew who would be the one to pay the debt. As He would hang on the cross He would say, "It is finished." the debt is paid!

There are some facts that will never change. One fact is that you are forgiven. If you are in Christ, when He sees you, your sins are covered - He doesn't see them. He sees you better than you see yourself. And that is a glorious fact of your life.

Our forgiveness of others is a signal of our awareness of how much God has given us.

Isn't it presumptuous to come to the throne of grace if we haven't been gracious to the people in our life? How can we approach a God of mercy if we ourselves have hearts full of bitterness or anger? We must take care of relationship problems - make up with a spouse, get along with fellow church members, love our neighbors - then we will be fully united in prayer with the Father.

Father, we want to come home to you. But sometimes we're afraid that we've done something unforgivable, afraid that we've made You angry. And we wonder how You can forgive us. But Father, Your word teaches us that you will forgive us and that there's no sin too deep for your hand of forgiveness to reach.

The Inspirational Study Bible

Max Lucado