‘Forgive us our trespasses, AS WE FORGIVE those who trespassed against us – we’ve prayed thus to our Father in heaven – hundreds, thousands of times.
Yet, if He forgave us exactly as we forgave people – then we would be in big trouble, perhaps.
Jesus forgave the friends who abandoned/betrayed Him, the religious who didn’t discern the anointing on Him, His countrymen, family and neighbours and gossiped about Him, His leaders who rejected Him, stripped him, spat on Him, whipped Him and then threw Him on a cross.
Our Saviour, our God – He taught us how to forgive. HE is our only role model for forgiveness. Forgiveness is not godly, unless it’s freely and unconditionally given.
So when we ask God the Father for forgiveness ‘as’ it does NOT mean we:
– Forgive but take pride in ‘not forgetting’.
– Selectively forgive based on religion, political ideology, caste; colour, race, social status, gender or any other stupid prejudice.
– Carry slights or imagined slights from yesterday or decades ago.
– Forgive but refuse to communicate to them. May be talk to them only when you see them in heaven? That is if you reach heaven after all? (They will. You might not)
– Recruit others to your party of gossip and putrid hate.
– Hold intense dislike towards people/communities/nations/races/celebrities we do not even know personally – because of what we imagine they did or didn’t do. Or because they support anything or anyone we don’t like.
– Set boundaries and invite friends and family to do the same to others.
– Ignore them until they tow the line – to your manipulation, intimidation or domination. Accept your way or it’s the highway?
We MUST forgive ALL – if we want GOD to forgive us ‘just AS…’. Tough call.
Only a heart filled with Christlike love can truly forgive that way. Seeking God’s forgiveness while refusing to forgive others is hypocritical (Matthew 6:14-15)
May be, our thought should be: Papa God, my forgiveness level is pathetic. Don’t just forgive me just as I have forgiven others. Lord, please show me more mercy than what I show others – strangers and even the people I call family or friends. And please receive my own forgiveness – unconditionally – dearest God and ALL people.
Let my prayers be honest. Let me not set a higher standard for Your grace and a lower one for my forgiveness.
#JesusPeople #ForgiveLikeJesus
