From the Editors July 2, 2012 Issue

As we forgive...

The Editors

In the New Testament, as Jesus is sharing with his disciples that prayer that has echoed down the ages in every Christian church around the world, he gets to a point that actually requires something of the one who is praying. It’s a divine demand really—with a promise: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

When I consider this verse on forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer, it brings to mind several questions: “What really are our debts?” “How do we forgive others?” “What should we be forgiving?” “How much forgiveness is required?”

Perhaps our “debts” are actually anything in thought, motive, word, or deed that would fall short of what God has created us to be or intends for us to do? But of course, the great gift of God’s grace always provides a way to pay our debts, to get out of debt, to live as new men and women in Christ. There is surely no debt crisis in God’s kingdom.

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