but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13
In Luther’s Small Catechism we read:
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.
One of the greatest dangers for Christians is a feeling of self-righteousness and smugness. Jesus reminds us in the Lord’s Prayer that our lives are full of sin. If God in Christ forgives us this multitude of offenses against Him, how can we not forgive the few injustices that are committed against us?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to humble ourselves before the cross and receive forgiveness and mercy. Make us eager to share that forgiveness with the people around us. Amen.
God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus
Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.
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