Were: Regenerated — Tuesday
Matthew 6:12
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (NIV)
We find our verse today tucked in the middle of the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer has been prayed for thousands of years because it is how Jesus taught us to pray. I’m captivated by this part of the Lord’s Prayer—that God would forgive us our debts. This is the gospel. It is the good news that Jesus has forgiven us of all our sins. Every mistake that you and I could ever make, Jesus went to the cross to forgive. Jesus took your sins to the cross and nailed them there. He cast them as far as the east is from the west. Where sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
You are completely and totally forgiven if you’ve put your faith and trust in Jesus. We often struggle to accept and receive this unbelievable gift. It is assuredly a debt we could never repay, but we often try. We feel as if we must do something in order to earn this type of love. However, Dane Ortlund captures it well when he says, “In Hebrews 12, Jesus is called ‘the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God’ (Heb 12:2). ‘For the joy.’ What joy? What was waiting for Jesus on the other side of the cross?
The joy of seeing His people forgiven.”
As Jesus endured the worst on the cross, He had you on His mind. Seeing you experience new life in Him is a joy for Him. Like a doctor who takes joy in healing his patients, Jesus takes joy in caring for you. He likes to bind your wounds and mend your broken relationships. He likes to enter into your mess and see you through to wholeness.
Tuesday’s Reflection
Is there anything you need to ask God’s forgiveness for today? If so, share that with Him in prayer, and trust that He finds it a joy to forgive you. Don’t miss the responsibility piece of this part of the Lord’s Prayer. We also have the responsibility to forgive others. Be kind to others today as you receive grace and then give grace.