Day 25, Wednesday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey
I have yet to meet anyone who loves being in debt. No one relishes being in debt to someone else. We have learned to live with it as a necessary part of life, but it certainly is not something we look forward to. Even if we finally secure that hard-to-get loan that will finally turn our business around, in a perfect world we would never want indebtedness. Being in debt to someone takes away a portion of our independence, and we really dislike that!
So, I was uncomfortable when the author made the case for how we “owe” God. I don’t disagree with the author at all, but I’m certainly not comforted by the fact that I’ve got a debt running up with God that makes our national debt look pretty insignificant. I try to stay on top of what I owe others financially, and what I owe others socially. The thought that I am unable to stay on top of the debt I owe to God leaves me pretty uneasy, and, obviously, extremely desperate for forgiveness.
It is out of that incredible forgiveness I receive from God every day, if not every moment, that I also try to stay on top of forgiving the debt that others “owe” me when it comes to their trespasses against me. If God can let go of the disastrous debt that I owe God, than I certainly can let go of the nickel-ninety-eight debts that others “owe” me. It is a simple gift we can give to those who, like us, hate being in debt.
First of all I did not know that the word “trespasses” in Matthew’s Greek literally means “debts.” I’ve long held the belief that I am to forgive others offenses, if you will, but had never really considered debts. When I speak of debts my mind automatically goes to the narrow meaning “money” whereas trespasses implies a much boarder interpretation, hurt feelings, an action that was offensive or hurtful, things like that.
And in Thursday lesson it talks about those who feel that their forgiveness of others earns God’s forgiveness. I probably fell into that category as I’ve long felt “how can God forgive me if I’m not able to forgive others.”
But this reading tells us such thoughts smack of “works righteousness” and I know better than that! It’s taken me years, but I know that I am saved through faith and God’s grace not by things I’ve done. So what I’m saying is, I’m so thankful that God is always ready to forgive me all my offenses. He has shown me that through prayer and his grace I too am capable of forgiving and not just the small stuff in life.
God tells us the be loving and forgiving. It isn’t always easy that’s for sure, but God answers our payers and eventually we can find it in our hearts to forgive even those huge huge offenses that have hurt us, humiliated us, and caused us angish, grief, and bitterness for years. Thanks be to God!!