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Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 5 of the Lord’s Prayer Series “Forgive as We Forgive”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Scarlett Lewis’ son, Jesse, was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the biggest school shooting in U.S. history. At first, she said, she felt like her anger sapped all her strength and energy. She was angry at the shooter and at the mother for unwittingly arming him. But she made a choice to forgive.

She told The Forgiveness Project, “Forgiveness felt like I was given a big pair of scissors to cut the tie and regain my personal power. It started with a choice and then became a process.” She urged mourners at Jesse’s funeral to change their angry thoughts into loving ones, that thereby they might change the world. (read more of her story at https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/stories-library/scarlett-lewis/)

How would you react if your child was one killed senselessly in a school shooting?

Here’s three things about forgiveness:

1. Forgiveness releases anger and bitterness. When I don’t forgive, anger and bitter emotions can ruin us physically and spiritually.  Many would say, “She has a right to be angry.”  We could agree.  The killing of an innocent child is evil.  The consequences are lifelong.  She could be angry that he took her child away, deprived her of future memories, and left a void in their family that can never be filled.  Forgiveness released the anger.
2. Forgiveness is a choice. The only one who can forgive is you. (First the Lord of course.)  A family member can’t forgive for you; neither can a friend or a stranger.  Forgiveness must come from your heart because you are the one who was wronged.  Only you can forgive the one who sinned against you.
3. Forgiveness is a process. While forgiveness happens when you choose to forgive, allowing that forgiveness to remove anger, bitterness, hurt and accept the new normal takes time.  While it can happen overnight, often the larger the injury, the longer the healing.  But forgiveness does initiate that healing.

This articles written about Scarlett do not indicate her faith or reference the forgiveness that Jesus gives.  If she is not a Christian, it speaks to the general benefit of forgiveness to replace hate with love.  However, for the Christian, this journey might look very similar.  The depth of understanding forgiveness and the process to heal after a horrific injustice is magnified under the shadow of the cross of Jesus.

Forgiveness is a challenge.  It is not easy. However, it is the path of a Christian to reflect the forgiveness that we have been shown.

Admittedly, that is easier said than done.  I have struggled with smaller issues to forgive someone, and probably if I am honest there are still situations that reappear that need the power of Christ’s forgiveness to help me fully forgive.

So we continue to seek the Lord’s strength to put into practice Jesus’ words:

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. …Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 

Apply: What situation is still “eating you?”  Ask the Lord for strength to forgive and release the anger, bitterness, frustration that situation has been causing.

Prayer: Lord, forgiveness is hard, but the blessing is profound.  Thank you for your forgiveness and we ask your strength to forgive all those who have wronged us.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 5 of the Lord’s Prayer Series “Forgive as We Forgive”  (LISTEN HERE).

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“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”

Is there anything about this petition that causes you to pause when you speak it in the Lord’s Prayer?

To be honest, I wish the petition simply was, “Forgive us our sins.”

What causes me to pause is the second phrase, “…as we forgive those who sin against us.”

Has this ever given you pause?

Most often I think of forgiveness that I received is attached fully to the completed work of Jesus on the cross and unattached to any actions or activities I would do or not do.

I love passages like Ephesians 1:7-8: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

I even am happy to receive the encouragement to pass on that forgiveness such is found in Ephesians 4:32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

But to pray, “Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who sin against us” challenges me to consider, “How well am I passing on the forgiveness which God has given to me?”

If God would match his forgiveness of my sins with how well I forgive those who sin against me?

At times, I would not expect much forgiveness from the Lord.

I need forgiveness for not forgiving as I have been forgiven.  How about you?

Jesus told the parable of the “Unmerciful Servant” (Matthew 18) to illustrate and encourage our forgiveness of others.  Peter asked, “How many times should I forgive my brother?”  He wanted the “check box” and then have permission to NOT forgive.

Here is Jesus’ parable (Matthew 18)

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶ “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Jesus’ point in Matthew 18?

When I realize how much I have been forgiven by the Lord, the debts others incur are small by comparison.  Jesus wanted the man who had been forgiven 10,000 talents, an amount he would never be able to repay, to pass on a small percentage of that forgiveness to the one who owed him 100 denarii.

When I struggle to forgive, Jesus invites me to first look in the mirror and realize my sin, and then shift to the cross and realize how much I have been forgiven.  When this sinks in, it gives me strength to forgive as I have been forgiven.  And as I realize more and more how much I have been forgiven, forgiveness to others begins to flow more freely.

As forgiveness flows, I enjoy praying: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”

Apply: Take time to reflect or write down the sins of the past week.  As you reflect on the “cost of that debt” take a red marker and draw a cross and write the word “Forgiven” on top of them.

Prayer: Lord, help me to forgive as freely and generously as you have forgiven me.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 4 of the Lord’s Prayer Series “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Give us today… a godly family, … loyal friends and good neighbors.

This excerpt from Martin Luther’s explanation of the Fourth Petition again broadens our prayer from just the food we ask God to provide on a daily basis.  We realize every blessing that fills our days is a gift from our gracious heavenly Father and an answer to this short petition.

Our family is by no means perfect, but I am extremely thankful that the Lord has filled the hearts in our home and in our extended family.  There are many temptations for families today.  The ways of the world, the pursuit of career and wealth, the entertainment and social influences…for the most part…are a tug away from our relationship with the Lord.  Other petitions touch on the temptations and evil around us, but including a godly family as a daily blessing for which we pray recognizes that doing life God’s way and together as a family brings daily blessings, both physical and spiritual.  The situation isn’t the same, but the challenge from the Lord through Joshua is this, “14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).

Lord, give us today a godly family.

Friends are a blessing.  With a bit of transparency, it has been hard to have lasting friendships as a pastor.  While as a pastor you can see people outside the church (although admittedly that can be tough too), it is hard for people to engage with you outside the role of pastor.  So when the role of pastor is gone (move away, leave the church, etc.) the role of friend is gone too.  People you invest hours of time change addresses and change friends.  Sure they may pop up on social media, but the relationship isn’t as deep.  Friends are a blessing to our day.  Individuals who are there to share the joys and sorrows, the highpoints and the low points.  King Solomon realized the blessing of loyal friends:

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Lord, give us today loyal friends.

“Do you have a couple eggs?”  “Would you like some cucumbers?”  “Can you pull in the trash bins from the street?”  “We will be gone on vacation.  Can you watch the house for us and water the plants?”

Having a neighbor or two to whom you can address these questions and ask for help is a true blessing.  We know many of our neighbors and individually and collectively they make our days brighter.  We know they are there if we need something and vice versa.  We don’t have to worry about loud parties, drug deals, or nefarious activity.  We have good neighbors.  They are welcome in our home and we in theirs…one we even have a set of keys!  Again King Solomon reflects on the blessing of neighbors and the opportunity to be a blessing to them:

Proverbs 3:29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.

Proverbs 14:21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

Proverbs 25:17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.

Proverbs 27:10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

Lord, give us today good neighbors.

And when he answers your prayer for daily bread also with a godly family, loyal friends and good neighbors, remember to give thanks…often.

Apply: When is the last time you’ve thanked your neighbors for being good neighbors?  Maybe when you see them next, let them know you are grateful for them and the blessing they are to you!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me a godly family, loyal friends and good neighbors.  Each of them fill my days with blessings! AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 4 of the Lord’s Prayer Series “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Daily bread includes everything that we need for our bodily welfare, such as food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, fields and flocks, money and goods, a godly family, good workers, good government, honest leaders, good citizens good weather, peace and order, health, a good name, loyal friends and good neighbors. (Martin Luther – Explanation to Fourth Petition)

This short petition, while it focuses on food, is right to understand that we are praying for God to provide all that we need for a given day in our life.  The list that Martin Luther pens captures an extensive list.

Have you ever paused long enough in a day to realize all the things with which you interact in a given day?

You would probably come up with a list similar to the one above.

What items in this list are skipped in your prayer life?

As I am writing this, the grouping of items that stood out to me that I do not always think about as I pray this petition are the items related to the government under which we live.  “Good government, honest leaders, good citizens, peace and order.”

I have started reading “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine and find it interesting in his writing that government is a result of individuals not able to self-govern and live at peace with each other, i.e. a result of sin.  Here’s a quote:

Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one: for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries BY A GOVERNMENT, which we might expect in a country WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of the bowers of paradise. For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of his property to furnish means for the protection of the rest; and this he is induced to do by the same prudence which in every other case advises him, out of two evils to choose the least. Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others.

So understanding the temptations of those in power to use that power in a way that is personally beneficial but not beneficial to society, it is truly appropriate as the Apostle Paul encourages to pray for our governing officials.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

When we pray “Give us today our daily bread,” pause to also pray for our governing officials national, state and local that they might selflessly serve to allow the ability to peacefully gather and enjoy our daily bread.

Apply: We often think most of our national government.  Take a moment today to find the name of your mayor, council person, chief of police and fire.  Pray for them too!

Prayer: Lord, guide and direct all who serve in a government setting to seek your wisdom and direction as they serve the people they oversee.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 4 of the Lord’s Prayer Series “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread”  (LISTEN HERE).

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^{Philippians 4:10} I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Contentment is hard.

It does not come naturally.

It is easy for our heart to always want more.

Contentment has to be learned.

The Apostle Paul had extreme swings in his physical condition.  He was ship wrecked and at other times enjoyed a meal with friends.  He spoke to a captivated crowd, but then found himself being stoned by another crowd.  No doubt there were times where he yearned for better and wondered why he was in the current circumstances.  Yet as he sat in prison writing to the believers in Philippi, he shared a lesson he learned:

¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Contentment for the Christian does not come naturally.  We live in a culture where the marketing world’s job is to make us discontent and seek to find contentment in the product they are selling.  We have many things money can buy and yet when we buy somethings, we barely pause to enjoy it before our heart is set on the next thing.  Our culture communicates that contentment is found with more money, more things, more experiences.  We often put a condition on contentment and say, “I will be content when…” (…I have more money, get a new job, graduate from school…etc.).

So what was the “secret” to contentment that Paul learned?

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Contentment is a gift of God and a working of his Spirit.  Contentment is a working of God’s Spirit to understand that in plenty or want, well fed or hungry, I have all I need in Christ.  My physical condition or my material wealth do not change my status with God.  I am, by grace, always a loved, redeemed, gifted child of God.

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we pray for daily bread, we are also praying for contentment with what God has blessed us with today.  If he chooses different or additional blessings tomorrow, I will remember to give thanks for those things and that situation also is a gift from God (whether good or bad).  My confidence in praying “Give us this day our daily bread” is the confidence that God will give me today what I need for today.

In that, I can be content.

Apply: What is causing discontent in your life?  What perspective change can God’s Spirit give that will help you learn to be content, no matter the circumstances around you?

Prayer: Lord, forgive my heart of discontent and teach me, as you did Paul, to be content in every circumstance…starting with today.  AMEN.