| In the family prayer given to us by our Lord, the request for daily bread is followed by the request for forgiveness. What is forgiveness? The word, if used concerning a debt, means the debt has been cancelled. If it is used regarding an offence, it means the person has been pardoned. If used concerning sin, it means the sin has been wiped out. We all know the word very well. It reminds us of our parents saying, "I forgive you, but don't do it again." We all need forgiveness. The New English Bible says, "Forgive us the wrong we have done." What wrong and what sin are we talking about here? This prayer belongs to the family of God, so it must be sin in the life of a child of God. Do we realize how often we need to pray this prayer? We excuse our outbursts of temper, our selfishness and our pride. We think too little of envy or jealousy. We hide our wrong feelings toward a fellow Christian. We need the Holy Spirit to point these things out to us. We need to pray this prayer often, "Forgive us Father for the wrong and the sin in our lives." (1 Jn 1:7-9) The second part of the phrase also is very plain: "As we also have forgiven our debtors". We are not forgiven because we have forgiven others. We are forgiven because of Christ. Having been forgiven ourselves, we could hardly withhold forgiveness for others. Forgiving someone who has wronged us is not easy. It can cut very deeply, yet one of the conditions of complete fellowship with Christ is a forgiving spirit. Is there someone you have never forgiven? You were hurt deeply. You have never forgotten it. How long ago was it? How big was it really? Did it hurt you or did it only hurt your pride? Can you ask God's forgiveness for those wrong feelings today? Then because He will forgive you, will you forgive that other person? Will you do it for Christ's sake? Let's say the phrase again, "Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors." May that be our continuing prayer. | 
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