97. The Cost of Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12, 14-15, Luke 11:4A

Key Verse:   Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Luke 11:4A

Well, this is slightly different.  When I've said the Lord's Prayer, I've usually said, "as we forgive," which sounded to me like, "forgive me when I get around to forgiving the other person.  And, I'll understand if you forgive me in the same way that I forgive, okay?"

What Jesus really says here is, in Matthew, "as we also have forgiven," and in Luke, "for we also forgive."  In other words, Jesus is assuming, in this prayer that He is teaching His disciples that, of course, we have already forgiven our fellow travelers on this earth so, now, please, heavenly Father, extend Your forgiveness to us.  Jesus has assumed the best in us.  If we are going to pray this prayer, He has assumed that we have already let go of any grudges that we may have been nursing.  He has assumed that we are a forgiving people.

In fact, this is the only phrase, of the Christian's prayer, that Jesus comments on further, to His disciples, when the demonstration is done.  "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."  (Matthew 6:14-15)   Remember, for Jesus, forgiveness is a serious business.  His whole reason for coming to this earth was to prepare a way for us to be forgiven of our major offence toward Him and our heavenly Father.

How far are you willing to go to forgive?  Forgiveness can be one of the most difficult things we will be asked to do as a Christian.  Jesus understands.  It wasn't easy for Him either, yet He did it, setting the example for us to follow.  If you can't do it on your own, appeal to Him for help and guidance.  You could experience something dramatic.

Corey Ten Boom, author of, "The Hiding Place," tells of a meeting that she had with a former guard of one of the concentration camps that she and her sister Betsy stayed at while they were imprisoned during WWII.  This guard had been memorably cruel.  But after the war, he had become a Christian and had come to hear Corey speak.  He approached Corey after she was done and asked her to forgive him for his cruelty.  For a moment, Corey hesitated. She remembered too well how she and Betsy had suffered at his hand.  Then, she prayed for God's help and, as she reports, immediately, a sense of love and forgiveness flooded through her and she extended her hand and her forgiveness to this man.

When we are willing, God can do amazing things through us for His glory. There is a cost to us when we forgive.  Jesus knows that well.  He knows that He isn't asking us to do something easy.  Forgive us Lord and enable us to extend that forgiveness to others.

Hymn:  "I Then Shall Live"