And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6: 12, NKJV.
Father in Heaven, as we study this part of the prayer that You taught us, we realize that it was not only a way of talking to You, but it was also a way for us to become more like You that You are offering Your disciples. So teach us not only to say this prayer, but to live it in Your strength and by Your grace. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
The study of God’s Word is indeed the highest form of education!
Jesus, the greatest Teacher who ever lived taught us the greatest lessons we can ever learn, by showing us the way – in His own life. He said: “as I have loved you . . . you also love one another” (John 13: 34b; emphasis provided). And “greater love has no man” shown to the human race, than when Christ laid down His life, and saved us from eternal death!
When He taught His disciples to offer forgiveness to others the way they hoped to be forgiven, He showed them how – on Calvary’s cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 20:34a).
Stephen, the first Christian martyr learned this lesson, and lived it out in his life, to perfection. Observe his deathbed scene:
“When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, (Stephen), being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘ “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ‘ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘ “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘ “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” ‘ And when he had said this, he fell asleep” ‘ ” ‘ ” ‘ ” (Acts 7:54-60; emphasis provided).
No doubt, this complete emptying of himself by Stephen, as witnessed by Saul (later Paul), in order to b e filled with the Spirit of God and forgive his assassins, must have had a lasting and redemptive impression on the apostle.
And that is one of the wonderful results of the act of forgiveness; it sets the forgiver free and offers redemption to the forgiven! Is that not what we experienced when Christ forgave us? full and free redemption?
May we be willing to allow others to have this experience by forgiving them as we have, and hope to be, forgiven.