It is very hard to forgive ourselves if we can’t first forgive others

Many of us pray the Lord’s Prayer with some regularity. Others of us pray it from time to time. Still others know the prayer and recite or pray it on infrequent occasions, particularly when facing difficult situations or feeling a great deal of stress. In any event, the Lord’s Prayer is one of the best-known prayers of the human family.

One part of that prayer which often touches those who pray it is the portion which addresses the issue of forgiveness.

“Forgive us our trespasses (debts or sins) as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

It is both a petition and a promise. The petition is placed before God as a request for our sins to be forgiven. Clear and simple. We ask for God’s grace to be shared with us as we acknowledge that we are in need of forgiveness. It is as though we were saying, “Well, I’ve done it again, Lord. Please excuse my sin one more time. Please don’t let this be the sin that separates me from your love. Please tell me again how much you love me.”

The use of various words such as trespasses and debts is the result of the old English translations which have come down into our hands through the ages. It is interesting, however, that these commonly used words have a tendency to cloud the real meaning of this petition. Some of the newer translations use the cold, hard, undefined word: sin. The beast is named. “Forgive us our sins… ”

The second part of the sentence is a promise. If you will show grace to me, I will show grace to those who have sinned against me. This attitude reminds me of the story that Jesus told about the servant who owed his master a great sum of money.

When he pleaded his case and his inability to pay the debt, the master forgave the debt and allowed the servant to avoid any payment. Later, however, the very servant who had been forgiven the great debt, was seen demanding payment from another servant who owed him a small amount. He was absolutely unwilling to demonstrate the same grace which had been shown to him.

This part of the prayer indicates a willingness to at least strike a bargain. If God forgives you, you must be willing to forgive those who have sinned against you. The reality, however, is that the order is reversed.

In another passage of scripture, we read, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone: so that your father … may forgive you your trespasses.” It is clear here that our forgiveness by God is dependent on our prior forgiveness of others.

With that in mind, I invite you to let this be a day of forgiving. Think about that person who has wronged you in one way or another. Are you willing to offer forgiveness?

Think about the one who has pushed you again and again. Can you be forgiving? Perhaps your first prayer should be for God’s help as you seek to forgive others.

Let us pray: Loving and forgiving God, we seek you today. We acknowledge our need to be in right relationship with our sisters and brothers if we are to be close to you. Help us to do both. Amen.

Our thought for the day is this: It’s hard to forgive ourselves if we can’t forgive others.

Dr. David L. Glusker is pastor of First Radio Parish Church of America, 1 Congress Square, Portland 04101. “Daily Devotions” is broadcast at 6:15 a.m. weekdays and 6:55 a.m. weekends on WLBZ-TV and WCSH-TV.