Your Daily Devotion for April 24, 2009

A Prayer of Forgiveness

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

 

Matthew 6:12

 

 

Our job isn’t to get revenge, but to follow God’s pattern of forgiveness.

 

When the first missionaries came to Alberta, Canada, they were savagely opposed by a young chief of the Cree Indians named Maskepetoon. But he responded to the gospel and accepted Christ. Shortly afterward, a member of the Blackfoot tribe killed his father. Maskepetoon rode into the village where the murderer lived and demanded that he be brought before him. Confronting the guilty man, he said, “You have killed my father, so now you must be my father. You shall ride my best horse and wear my best clothes.” In utter amazement and remorse his enemy exclaimed, “My son, now you have killed me!” He meant, of course, that the hate in his own heart had been completely erased by the forgiveness and kindness of the Indian chief.

 

Have you ever wondered why forgiving someone is so difficult? Forgiveness is free, it doesn’t cost us anything, and it helps us feel better. Yet forgiveness is probably one of the hardest commands for people to obey. As the Lord was giving His guideline for our prayers, He made a note to include forgiveness. He desires that seeking His forgiveness and forgiving others would be a part of our daily prayer time.

 

First, God desires that we would seek His forgiveness. Our relationship with God relies on pure hearts, and harbored sin can hinder our communication with Him. He desires that as we seek Him, we would pray for forgiveness.

 

When we were saved, we were pardoned from eternal punishment. God paid the price for our sins. Yet, we will still sin because we are human beings, and God desires that when we do sin, we seek His forgiveness right away. Nothing hinders prayers more than hidden sin. Before God will hear our prayers, we must make sure our hearts are pure before Him.

 

Second, the last part of our verse shows us that God desires we would show forgiveness to others. Christ mentions forgiving others again in verse 14, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” God’s desire is that we would forgive those who wrong us, even as He has forgiven our wrongs against Him. Because He has forgiven us, we can forgive others no matter what the offense.

 

Forgiveness isn’t always easy. Our human nature desires revenge, yet God commands us in Romans 12:9, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Our job isn’t to right the wrong, but to follow God’s pattern of forgiveness.

 

Who do you need to forgive today? Don’t harbor unforgiveness against someone, no matter what they may have done to you. You cannot know peace with God unless you have forgiven those who have wronged you. Make things right with others today and allow God to bless you because of your forgiveness.

 

 

To find out more about Pastor Paul Chappell visit his blog or follow him on twitter.

 

To hear Daily in the Word, the daily radio broadcast of Dr. Paul Chappell, or to subscribe to the daily podcast, please visit dailyintheword.org.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

2 Samuel 19-20 • Luke 18:1-23

 

 

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