"Forgiven and Forgiving"

2-24-19 Sermon Notes "Forgiven and Forgiving"'

I recently heard about a man that went to see his doctor because he was feeling absolutely awful. The doctor gave him a careful examination, left the room to look at some tests, came back in with a very somber expression on his face, and said: "Sir, I don't know how to break the news to you, but you have rabies and you're going to die very soon."

The man very calmly got out a piece of paper and began furiously writing. The doctor said: "What are you doing, making out your will?" He said: "Oh no, I'm writing out a list of people I'm going to bite."'

If we're honest, we probably all have a list of people we'd like to "bite." We could call these "grudges." And we have list of people who have "bitten" us. We could call these "wounds." And we all have been guilty of wounding others with our words and our actions. We could call these "offenses." Grudges...wounds...offenses... These are why learning to say six simple words is so critical. What are those six simple words?

In Adam Hamilton's book, Forgiveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go, he shares the six simple words without which no marriage can survive, no family can stay together, and no friendship can last. These six words need to show up regularly in our vocabulary. They are: "I am sorry," and "I forgive you."

Praying and learning to receive and give forgiveness will be the focus of this week's message from The Lord's Prayer, as we learn to "Pray as Jesus Taught Us." Again we turn to Matthew 6...

9 "Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matt. 6: 9-12, 14-15 NRSV)

we will see why making forgiveness a part of our daily pattern for prayer is so important!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Sam