The Lord's Prayer (7)

"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
Matthew 6:12

This is a risky part of the Lord's Prayer. It takes away our right to exact revenge, harbour resentment, or even talk about the situation to others. Here Jesus points us to: His pardon.
Have you been overlooked? Betrayed? Misunderstood? Do you keep giving to others but it never seems to come back? Jesus said, "Offences will come." So where are you going to go?
To the cross. Christ forgave His enemies when He had the power to destroy them.
Think, if God:
(a) were as selective in forgiving as you are;
(b) took His time so you could suffer;
(c) told everybody who'd listen what you've done to Him;
(d) forgave, but refused to give you another chance;
(e) made up His mind to distance and avoid you;
(f) next time you were in trouble, refused to help you saying, "Huh, it couldn't have happened to a nicer person," could you live with that? No? Then extend to others the same forgiveness God extends to you.
When you pray "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" you're asking for a change of heart! Nehemiah writes, "You are a God ready to pardon" (Nehemiah 9:17). Aren't you glad he didn't write, "You are a God ready to put us on probation." No, pardon is God's fixed attitude toward us. The pardon was in place before the offence was committed. Wow! That unburdens us and sets us free. The only place bitterness can live is in our memory. The only power it can have over us is the power we give it. Remember that, next time you pray The Lord's Prayer.