"F" is for Forgiven

"and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Matthew 6:12

I am blessed to have the most wonderful family in all the world.

Sadly, if they were to grade me in my performance as a parent, a spouse, even as a child, I would most certainly receive an "F".  Try as I might, this overachiever in every area of life has failed so miserably in things most important.

In pondering the passage above out of the Lord's prayer, I was reminded that the manner in which I forgive others is the manner in which I, too, will be forgiven—both now and in eternity.  To drive this point home, Jesus tells us a second time in the same chapter, at the end of the prayer, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).   He tells us the same principle, expanding it to judgment, in Matthew 7:1-2 and Luke 6:37-38.

My wonderful family has been so forgiving and loving toward me in all my failings, and it occurred to me just how very blessed I am to have a family loving enough to teach, correct, and discipline me in my failings—even as an old lady.  Then, when I take my sins to Jesus in confession and repentance, He forgives me always.

What love!

But isn't that just like our Jesus?

I often feel as though this verse in Luke 7:47 was written just for me, "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  It was written for you, too.

I'm thankful that in God's alphabet "F" is for forgiven.

Have you been forgiven?

Goodnight, Runners.