January 8th: Forgive Us Our Debts
As we continue working our way through the LORD’s prayer, during our 21 days of prayer, today we come across Jesus’ admonition: “and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Mt 6:12).
Jesus’ choice of words here evokes the imagery of an imbalance of sorts, of one person owing something to someone else. We know clearly from the parallel passage in Luke, the imbalance was created by sin (Lk 11:4). The debt we incurred because of our sin was something only Jesus could pay for, and the forgiveness we experience in salvation is a free gift of grace (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9), that forgives that debt.
However, after following Jesus, every time we sin or fail to love God or others as God intended (1 Jn 4:11), we incur a new debt to God and/or others, that likewise needs to be forgiven. This debt is forgiven upon confession/repentance (see 1 Jn 1:9; c.f. Jas 5:16).
To pray forgive us our debts is to ask God to forgive us of the sins we have committed. The further admonition forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors, calls attention to the fact that our forgiveness of others is proof of our own forgiven state, and it urges us not to withhold forgiveness from those who have wronged us. It further emphasizes that if we are going to ask God to forgive us, we must be sure we are not harboring unforgiveness towards others.
As you spend time in prayer today, spend time in confession over any sins the Holy Spirit brings to mind, taking time to confess and repent of any unforgiveness you may be harboring towards other believers.