Discipleship Point
Matthew 6:14-15
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Pondering Point
From Luther’s Small Catechism explanation of the Lord’s Prayer:
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
What does this mean?
We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we surely sin much and truly deserve nothing but punishment. So too we will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.
Don't lose sight of these words about forgiveness – in this moment of devoting with God – and in light of another of Jesus' teachings: "If you love Me, you will obey what I command".
Discipleship Prayer
Father, forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me. Forgive me my debts as I forgive my debtors. Forgive me my sins as I forgive those who have sinned against me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 139:13-18
- For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. - My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. - Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. - How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them! - Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
Read the verses of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask Him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
Psalm 40:5
- Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
The Promise
Psalm 63:6-8
- On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night. - Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings. - I cling to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Pondering Point
Consider the Psalmist’s point: He (or you!) could fall asleep thinking of God’s vast thoughts – counting them as grains of sand. One could fall asleep and then pick up again in the morning, never exhausting the thoughts of God.