Thursday, 21 May 2015

Omer Devotional: Praying for Forgiveness

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What is the connection between prayer and forgiveness? This message is simple, so why aren't we better at it? If we want to be forgiven, we must increase our level of forgiveness. The first phrase can also be translated, "And every time you stand to pray ..."

Mark 11:25-26: "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." NKJV

Questions on forgiveness often arise. Our Sheleach, Dan Juster, taught us years ago about the difference between transactional forgiveness and non-transactional forgiveness. Transactional requires the engagement of both parties. Non-transactional only takes one (either one) and does not depend on any interaction between the parties. Sometimes, non-transactional repentance can even lead to transactional forgiveness.

Why not just pray? In Hebrew we say, "ritzpah n'kiyah", the floor (should be) clean. The floor is cleaned through forgiveness. As the children of God, we should lead through example, to show the world the love of Yeshua. (See the parable in Matthew 18:21-35.)

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