Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 9
Thursday


THE CHAIN
OF UNGRACE

READ:
MATTHEW 6:9-15
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Forgive us our debts, as
we forgive our debtors.
__Matthew 6:12
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When I feel wronged, I can contrive a hundred reasons against forgiveness. "He needs to learn a lesson." "I'll let her stew for a while; it'll do her good." "It's not up to me to make the first move." When I finally soften to the point of granting forgiveness, it seems a leap from hard logic to mushy sentiment.

One factor that motivates me to forgive is that as a Christian I am commanded to, as the child of a Father who forgives. Jesus said, "If you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses" ((Mark 11:25).

But beyond that, I can identify three pragmatic reasons: First, forgiveness halts the cycle of blame and pain, breaking the chain of ungrace. Without it we remain bound to the people we can't forgive, held in their vise grip.

Second, forgiveness loosens the stranglehold of guilt in the perpetrator. It allows the possibility of transformation in the guilty party, even if a just punishment is still required.

And third, forgiveness creates a remarkable linkage, placing the forgiver on the same side as the party who did the wrong. We are not as different from the wrongdoer as we would like to think, for we too must ask our heavenly Father, "Forgive us our debts" (Mat. 6:12). __Philip Yancey
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````````````````When I consider Calvary's dismay__```````````````
`````````The shame, the scorn, the scourging borne by You__````````
`````````````Resentment melts; I am compelled to say, ````````````
``````"Forgive them Lord, they know not what they do!" __Mollon``````
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He who cannot forgive others burns the bridge
over which he himself must pass. __Herbert

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 6:9-15************

9 "In this manner,
therefore, pray: Our Father
in heaven, hallowed be Your
name. 10 Your kingdom
come. Your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily
bread. 12 And forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our
debtors. 13 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.

14 "For if you forgive men
their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also
forgive you. 15 But if you do
not forgive men their
trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your
trespasses."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Today's Bible reading, like yesterday's, is also from the Sermon on
the Mount. This portion is commonly called The Lord's Prayer, but
is actually prayed for His own, we must go to John 17. There
we find the great high priestly prayer that Jesus prayed for His
disciples__and for us__as they made their way to the Garden of
Gethsemane. This prayer, offered just hours before His crucifixion,
shows the heart and desire of Christ for all who come to Him by
faith. __Bill Crowder