Does someone owe something to you? Have you loaned money to someone who never paid you back? Has it ruined your friendship? Perhaps separated sisters or brothers or family members? We have to let it go. We must forgive them and forget it. Go make peace with them, and if it’s too late because the Lord called them home, just give it to God, and ask Him to help you forgive them and yourself, too! I believe we have to ask God to help us forgive ourselves, because we can be our own worst enemy, as far as self condemning, and self criticizing.
Most churches say the Our Father prayer as it is written in Matthew, chapter 6. But look how it is written in Luke.
In Luke 11:1-4, it is written “1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
We are accustomed to asking God to forgive us for our trespasses (and in this version it is sins) and yet, in this version we are to forgive everyone that is “indebted to us” in contrast to having trespassed against us (as written in Matthew 6).
Well, how many of us think of indebted as the same as being offended? Being indebted means owing money, right? The dictionary says something owed; state of owing something; obligation; sin. And yet we think of it as offense. If someone has harmed you in some way, forgive him or her.
And, along the same line of thinking, if we have helped out a friend, and that friend has never done something in return for us, well some may not want to help them because they’ve never done anything for them. That’s old school, or the worldly school; and that’s not God’s Word school. We should not be the kind of person who always wants something in return, or is always wondering what’s in it for them. In fact, it was in our Sunday School lesson today, it’s in Luke 6:34-35 – “34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
I’ve talked to people who have loaned something to someone and still hold that person in an unhealthy regard because they never paid them back (or gave back the item loaned). This Scripture says that we should forgive them for whatever they owe us. If we have given or loaned someone money and that person has not paid us back, we must forgive. You know, this could be very difficult; but if it makes your stomach churn when you think of it, and letting it go would ease your ill feelings; wouldn’t it make sense to let it go? There is freedom in letting go of ill feelings! Forget them!
Psalm 119:78 - “78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.”
Proverbs 3:7 – “7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”
So let’s depart from evil, including thoughts of evil events in times past. They are gone! Let go of the past, forgiving & forgetting!
These Scriptures sure help me: “18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
“20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
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