Feb. 22, 2015 FORGIVENESS

Matthew 6:12 ¹²   

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (NSRV)

Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. (MSG)

We pray for forgiveness every time we repeat the prayer Jesus taught us.  When we ask for forgiveness we add our own commitment to forgive others.  In the ELW edition of Luther’s Small Catechism, we read:  

We ask in this prayer that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins nor deny those petitions on their account, for we are worthy of nothing for which we ask, nor have we earned it.  Instead we ask that God would give us all things by grace, for we daily sin much and indeed deserve only punishment.  So, on the other hand, we, too, truly want to forgive heartily and to do good gladly to those who sin against us.

Forgiveness is a gift from God that I too gladly want to share with others. 

During this Lenten season, I vow to pay that gift forward… ever mindful that the forgiveness I share is but a miniscule example of the forgiveness I have received. 

Today pray the words of ELW Hymn # 605; Forgive Our Sins, As We Forgive

Shared by Pastor Elaine Berg

                      Pastor Jen’s mom, Dean of Foothills Conference in Upstate NY Synod