Matthew 6:9–13: “In this manner, therefore, pray: / ‘Our Father in heaven, / Hallowed be Your name. / Your kingdom come. / Your will be done / On earth as it is in heaven. / Give us this day our daily bread. / And forgive us our debts, / As we forgive our debtors. / And do not lead us into temptation, / But deliver us from the evil one. / For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'”

January 4th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

This model prayer rings out with the comforting and familiar phrase, “Our Father.” We do not find this concept of calling God our Father in the Old Testament. Jesus Himself uniquely teaches us this and reminds us of Father God’s nearness and availability to us. There are at least 6 separate requests in this prayer, with the first 3 focusing on God: that He would receive the glory or weight due His name, that His kingdom would expand, and that His will would be done. The other requests are directed toward our individual needs: our current physical necessities, forgiveness of our sins, and deliverance from temptation and evil.

The center request and promise often catches our attention: “And forgive us our debts [sins], / As we forgive our debtors [those who’ve sinned against us].” There is an astounding promise found within this request for forgiveness. As we forgive others, our heavenly Father also forgives us. Those who desire to find mercy with God must show mercy to others. Jesus reconciles us not only to God but also to each other. The Greek word for forgive means to let go, release, and send away. As we release and let go of wrongs committed against us, we find God releasing us of our own guilty actions toward Him.

In 1913, from June 29 to July 6, 50,000 veterans who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War, got together for a “Great Reunion.” During the week, there were addresses, memorials, parades, and reenactments. Veterans from both sides of the war, Union and Confederate, who 50 years earlier had been enemies, spent time reminiscing. It is reported that 2 men bought a hatchet from the hardware store and buried it on the battlefield.¹ It was a time of forgiveness and reconciliation.

“LORD, today we chose to forgive others as You have forgiven us. Please give us forgiveness in our hearts, in Jesus’ name.”

¹http://mentalfloss.com/article/28128/gettysburg-great-reunion-1913, accessed June 29, 2015