The writer C. S. Lewis said that forgiveness is a lovely idea… until you have something to forgive. I think he’s right. When you’ve been hurt by another, you want to do anything but forgive. You want to enact revenge, nurture the hurt, psychologically protect yourself from the one who hurt you, and pick at the ‘scab’ until it bleeds again.

And yet here, in the midst of the Lord’s Prayer, we have the request to God that we be forgiven – as we forgive others!

This, of course, fits in with other teachings of Jesus [Luke 6:37-41]. Jesus scandalously went about forgiving people, some of whom had not even asked to be forgiven. And he insisted that his followers do the same.

Think of all the things which make it difficult to forgive. Think of a particular person or event whose sting lingers with you. I knew a woman who seemed to be fixated on her ex-husband. Many topics the group talked about would bring to her mind something he had done to her or some negative character trait he had. She was in a negative orbit around him. She was not free. I may advise her not to have him active in her life again. Is there a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? Nevertheless, does she need to be set free from him? Is there some other way to achieve that without forgiveness?

Now think of the first phrase – “Forgive us our sins.” Is there anything standing in the way of you receiving forgiveness? Perhaps you’ve done nothing that deserves formal forgiveness. Or, at least, not as bad as others… you could name! You’ve made some mistakes, surely, but you meant well. Nothing so wicked that would cost Jesus his life, surely.

What is required of us in order to receive forgiveness? Is it linked in any way to our giving forgiveness? What character traits do we need for that to happen [Romans 8:24-27]?

I look forward to seeing you in worship Sunday.