forgiveness - Barbara Lynn Seibel

When a Nonbeliever Forgives You

Have you ever been caught lying?

Maybe it was when you were still a child, or perhaps it was just last week!

What prompted you to lie?

How did the lie get discovered?

How does God use our moments of failure to bring not only correction but healing?

Consider with me the story of Isaac in Genesis 26.

Last week we looked at the importance of reciprocity as found in Matthew 6:14 where Jesus elaborates on one of the petitions within the sample prayer we refer to as the Lord’s prayer. (See Matthew 6:12.)

After concluding the sample prayer, Jesus confirms with Matthew 6:14 that the Lord to whom one should pray will forgive us as we forgive others.

Then comes the “but” or what I’m referring to as the challenge of reciprocity found in Matthew 6:15.

What does a picture of two children hugging have to do with the phrase “something owed”?

The phrase “something owed,” is frequently used to define a debt of some kind.

It is common to connect the phrase “something owed” with financial debts.

Do you agree that the “something owed” in the picture above is likely not financial?

We are going to study what Matthew 6:12 has to say about a broader concept of “something owed”.

Follow Me!