August 31, 2017 – Devotions – Your G-d Is Too Small — What is the Forgiveness of Sin?

“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:7-15

We so often hear people say “I just cannot forgive what so and so did to me”. Forgiveness is a difficult topic to fully appreciate in our lives – at least that is what I think. The Greek word for forgiveness is “Aphiemi” – it is the word used when Jesus says “And forgive us our debts”. Like many words, it has several derivations including to send away, release, and remit. A good image I have used for the idea of forgiving someone is the image of releasing something you have in your hand. You must open your hand to release it. It requires us to do something purposefully to finally, once and for all, release the “thing” or the “someone” from our grip. What it means, ultimately, is that something someone has done to us has gripped us – or we have gripped it – the hurt, the pain, the sorrow, the grief of that hurt is held tight. And it will not let go – or we refuse to let it go. And so because we like to keep control in our lives, we believe that we want to hold that person accountable – they must “repay” us for what they have done. There is a debt to be paid. My concern is this: though we think we control it, the reality is, it now controls us.

Jesus tells us to pray asking that G-d forgive us of our debts, “…as we also have forgiven our debtors”. Notice what Jesus is saying. We are praying for G-d’s forgiveness, but only after we have been living a life of continually forgiving the others in our lives. All of a sudden we realize that before we should approach G-d seeking forgiveness, we should already have been actively and continually forgiving others. We forgive others when we let go of resentment and give up any claim to be compensated for the hurt or loss we have suffered. The Bible teaches that unselfish love is the basis for true forgiveness, since love “does not keep account of the injury.” (1 Cor. 13:4,5) And now we suddenly realize that forgiving others has less to do with our relationship with them, and more about our relationship with G-d. If we refuse to forgive, then it lessens our posture of seeking G-d’s forgiveness. Refusing to forgive others “constipates” our relationship with G-d. When we continually hold in our hearts the hate, resentment, pride and hurts, then we cannot come to G-d with the open hands and hearts that we should.

What is it in your hearts or minds that you need to let go and give to G-d? Letting go of the hate and the hurt will be very freeing – freeing and opening us to the love, mercy, unconditional forgiveness and unconditional Grace of Jesus. (Themes come from the book “Your God Is Too Small” by J. B. Phillips)

Pastor Dave